Beach hut on pristine Dorset sandbank sells for £485,000 in just 24

A wooden beach hut on a pristine Dorset sandbank has sold for £485,000 – making it one of Britain’s most expensive.

The humble abode at Mudeford Sandbank was snapped up in just 24 hours despite coming in at 20m² and onlookers describing it as ‘just a shed’.

It is thought that the two-storey height of the building played a part in the hut being sold so quickly.

Although it has minimal sofa space and just one bed, the estate agents said the hut could sleep six to eight people for half the year.

But Jamie Smith, 38, who has been documenting the huts, pointed out prices had skyrocketed since he moved to the area five years ago.

He added: ‘They are just sheds, let’s be honest!

‘The reason they are so popular is because of their location.

‘Since I’ve lived here the first sale was around 300k which I thought was ludicrous and they’ve just shot up.

The humble abode at Mudeford Sandbank was snapped up in just 24 hours despite coming in at 20m2 and onlookers describing it as ‘just a shed’

It is thought that the two-storey height of the building played a part in the hut being sold so quickly

Although it has minimal sofa space and just one bed, the estate agents said it could sleep six to eight people for half the year

Tiny beach hut with no power or water is on sale for £70,000

‘This recent one apparently sold in less than 24 hours.

‘They’re probably a good investment long-term but as for living you’re not allowed to live in them for half the year.’

The comments come after two other beach huts have been sold over the past year for £480,000 and £415,000 – both without a toilet, running water or gas.

Another hut was sold within 24 hours of going on the market – matching the price of the recently snapped up 20m2 hut at £485,000.

The wooden cabin was also located on the Mudeford Sandbank in Christchurch and was thought to be in an enviable position at the end of a row, having front and rear sea views.

It could sleep between six to eight people with the sofas in the lounge area being converted into a bed and a mezzanine floor level offering more bed space.

For the same money in nearby Christchurch, interested proprietors can buy a four-bedroom house.

Over the past 20 years prices for beach huts at Mudeford have shot up from £80,000 to almost £500,000 today.

Another hut (pictured) was sold within 24 hours of going on the market – matching the price of the recently snapped up 20m2 hut at £485,000

In August one lucky buyer was given the chance to secure a hut for less than £70,000 (pictured) – though the twist was it was only 8ft by 5ft with just a few hooks for towels, a storage bench and worktop

But despite its lack of amenities on the inside, the £70,000 hut did boast sensational seaside views of North Beach in Dorset

Cabin fever! Beach hut on Dorset sandbank sells for £485,000 within 24 hours of going on the market

In August one lucky buyer was given the chance to secure a hut for less than £70,000 – though the twist was it was only 8ft by 5ft with just a few hooks for towels, a storage bench and worktop.

Of the 15 beach huts Denisons Estate Agents currently have on their website, 10 are pending sold – many without toilets.

The company insists the recently sold beach hut is an ‘above average size’ hut – a typical one measures just 20.25m², and electricity is supplied by a solar panel.

But Mr Smith said: ‘I believe this area is some of the most expensive in the UK.

‘From what I’ve learnt with this, this is one of the most expensive places to buy the beach huts.

‘With these, they look alright on the inside but there’s always bits of paint missing and you have the saltwater, sea air and the wind.

‘They certainly need to be bolstered up for the elements.

‘For these prices, you could get a lovely house in the Poole and Bournemouth area.

The view from the wooden beach hut that sold for £485,000. The hut at Mudeford Sandbank, just south of Christchurch, on the Dorset coast measures just 20m²

Stunning one-bedroom shack overlooking pristine stretch of Dorset coast goes on sale for £465,000

‘I’m not sure what the monthly and weekly prices would be to rent it out but I’m sure people would pay for it on an Airbnb or something.’

BCP Council adds the beach huts can only be slept in from 1st March to 31st October every year and owners require a licence.

Beach hut values have soared in value in the last few decades, thanks in no small part to the rise in staycationers since the Covid pandemic.

The record price paid for one was £575,000 in September 2021.

In May, a beach hut that pointed away from the Dorset coast went on the market for £435,000.

The 16ft by 13ft timber chalet, Hut 260, was located on the isolated Mudeford Spit in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, lacking a sea view as well as running water, toilet facilities and mains electricity.

But the property commanded the same price as a family home in most parts of Britain because of it’s location, which can only be reached by a 20-minute walk, a short ferry trip or a novelty train ride.