A holiday home with stunning sea views could be yours for £5,000 – if you don’t mind being precariously close to the cliff edge.
The Isle of Wight bungalow, sold as just a ‘short stroll’ to the beach, sits on one of the fastest-eroding stretches of coast in Britain.
With two beds, a rural landscape in the garden and unrivalled coastal views, the property in Freshwater on the western side of the island seems a bargain, but has an admittedly short lifespan.
Two properties next door were demolished in 2024 after being deemed unsafe for habitation.
But despite the growing threat of a landslip only worsened by January’s stormy and wet weather, the owners are still hoping to find a buyer.
The property will be sold via the ‘modern method of auction’ (MMoA), which involves a longer bidding process and is online, conditional, and allows for mortgage buyers.
The property is listed on the site ‘Property with Potential’ as an ‘immaculate brick-built holiday bungalow’ which ‘offers breathtaking sea views of Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay beach’.
‘The property has recently been upgraded with modern bathroom and kitchen facilities.
‘It has a total of 41 weeks a year holiday home occupancy and is designed for relaxed living.
‘The property also has a patio area and parking on street,’ the listing reads.
Those interested in bidding were advised the view the property themselves since the ‘price reflects the proximity to the cliff edge’.
Emma Carter from Freshwater parish council told the Telegraph: ‘There’s always been coastal erosion there but it’s certainly been quite considerable in the past three years.
‘The wet weather meant we had some slips last week and in the past there have been considerable chunks that have come down.
‘I wouldn’t be comfortable standing on the edge by the building and being that close to the cliff without thinking that it’s windy enough to blow me over.’
The bungalow used to sit close to an old concrete gun emplacement which was built into the cliff, but this also recently succumbed to erosion.
If the bungalow ends up in the same bottom-of-the-cliff fate, then the responsibility for cleaning up the debris typically lies with the property owner.
The cliffs are mainly composed of soft silt and clay – a mixture highly susceptible to rapid erosion.
The bungalow also cannot be used as a full-time residence, with the buyer limited to 41 weeks of occupancy per year.
Because of this, it is not however liable for the second homes council tax premium – but the property does have undisclosed site fees.
In terms of hidden costs, buyers will also face a reservation fee of £6,000 (but a guide price of £5,000) which triggers a 56-day window for the transaction to go through.
The buyer will also have to pay £349 towards the preparation cost of the sales information pack.
National Trading Standards guidance states that a property listing ‘should include, if relevant, an accurate description or statement as to any known risk of coastal erosion affecting the property and its boundary.’
It is ultimately up to the surveyor and buyer to identify and gauge the erosion risks at a seaside property.
Facebook user, Tracy Reynolds, said: ‘If anyone is seriously considering this, please speak to the Isle of Wight Council to see if they are about to, or if they have, put any notice on this property. There were previously two to the side, and the council had them demolished. This is closer. So do your checks.’
Another Facebook user, Mick Pelosi, said: ‘Probably because it’s likely to disappear along with the cliff.’
Another user, Wellstood Lisa, added: ‘Have a look at recent cliff falls combined with all the floods they have had this weekend. You might get one very expensive holiday before it vanishes!’
