EXCLUSIVE Our beach hut goldmines: Owners of quaint seafront shacks across the UK blame rich tourists for rocketing prices - as tiny wooden sheds sell for £450,000 (after being bought by families for £50 just 25 years ago) The average cost of a UK beach hut in a good condition is around £39,382 - but they can go for £450,000 MailOnline spoke to owners at huts which have been in the family since the 1930s - and bought for £100 By Shannon Mcguigan and Isaac Crowson Published: 04:54 EDT, 12 August 2024 | Updated: 05:07 EDT, 12 August 2024 e-mail View comments Advertisement Much like Mr Whippy, penny arcades and sandcastles, beach huts have become synonymous with a summer seaside getaway in Britain. They began to emerge on the coast dotted around the country in the mid 18th century, originally used to store clothes and beachside equipment. But in recent years owners have found their humble investments on the coast have multiplied by an astonishing 1,400 per cent.
Families are now sitting on property 'goldmines' which have shot up in value from £50 to £70,000 - with some in the South going on the market for up to £450,000. And they are also able to earn a tidy second income by renting them out to tourists for £85 a day - or up to £2,000 a week in some places. From Whitstable to Bournemouth and Brighton , MailOnline spoke to the lucky owners sitting on property goldmines and found out what they were bought for just 25 years ago - but why some families are less than impressed by the young investors coming along and snapping up the little wooden shacks.
Beach huts have become an icon of the British coast and are so beloved by Brits that some are willing to fork out hundreds of thousands of pounds just to own one Adrian Yule, 59, a retired doctor who lives in Christchurch, Adrian Yule, 59, a retired doctor who lives in Christchurch, has enjoyed trips to the cabin which has been in his family since before the Second World War. It was bought for £100 - now huts in the area go for £450,000 Nicola French Doyle (pictured) bought her humble coastal shack for £50 in 1999 and now it's worth a staggering £70,000 Anna Rogakou, 45, was surprised many of the beach hut were left empty in Whitstable, Kent Millionaire's Row: The prices of the timber cabins on the Mudeford Sandbank in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, now stand at about £475,000 Much like Mr Whippy, beach huts are a quintessential part of the British beachside but some owners have cashed in quite the investment as their popularity sky-rockets (pictured: Beach huts in Whitstable) In Dorset, five sought-after huts last year went on the market at the same time - two for £450,000 each and the other three for £440,000, £430,000 and £395,000 - more than the price of a four-bedroom house in many parts of the country. The timber cabins sit on the remote and exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, and can be slept in from April to October but they have no running water, mains electricity or toilets and washing facilities are in a communal block.
In the seaside town of Whitstable, Kent, beach hut owners are sitting happy on their investments which come in the form of unassuming timber cabin huts. Read More Beach huts worth £750,000 demolished as owners billed an extra £300 each to pay for the operation But they believe an influx of those from London travelling down to buy beach huts and then barely ever come and visit is casting a shadow on the area. And they have complained they are now so expensive, locals cannot afford them.
Many were left empty on a baking hot Thursday afternoon this week when Mail Online visited - and 'Londoners' have been blamed. Nicola French-Doyle purchased hers for £50 in 1999 - and it is now worth a staggering £70,000. The 59-year-old lives just down the road but said one problem had been tourists buying them and then barely ever returning.
The gardener said: 'It was just £50 and that was back when it was not fashionable. It was certainly not cool or trendy back then. 'It was a nice place to just chill out back then and it still is and for £50 it was a bargain.
Imogen Tikler, 41, (pictured) bought hers for £22,000 in 2011 - and it is now valued at an eye-watering £63,000. Simon Berry (pictured) who was visiting with friends said he 'loved' the beach hut experience Pictured left to right, Alan Breed, 64 and Dave Tilbury, 40, Hayley Tilbury, 33,and Matt Breed, 36, at a beach hut in Whitstable 'It's incredible to think what it is worth now. It's a little goldmine I suppose but I just enjoy being here.
She added: 'It's such a lovely place to relax and in the summer especially, it's just great. Read More The £40,000 garden shed: Woman moves expensive beach hut to her back garden rather than see it smashed to pieces on storm-ravaged cliff 'The weather has not been great this year, so I have only been down half a dozen times. 'It's got a few rooms, the kitchen and I can just chill out and sit outside.
It's peaceful.' Nicola said it is disappointing more locals are not able to own theirs due to the skyrocketing prices. She added: 'It's so expensive for locals.
It's a shame there are not more of us. I got a discount all those years ago for being local but now they are not offered. 'There's a lot of people from London and other tourists who have come and bought them and then the novelty wears off.
It's a real shame. She continued: 'I think they think it's probably easier than it is and they do not know the hard work that is involved.' Imogen Tikler, 41, bought hers for £22,000 in 2011 - and it is now valued at an eye-watering £63,000.
Beach hut owner Nicola said it is disappointing more locals are not able to own theirs due to the skyrocketing prices She said it was a 'shame' more locals didn't own the huts, adding there were no longer the discounts she previously received for living locally all those years ago Marketing strategist Imogen said whilst they are seeing 'more and more' Londoners - there are still 'some' locals The marketing strategist, who lives in Whitstable, said: 'We're seeing more and more from London but there are some locals. 'Others are from as far away as Australia. 'It's been a really good investment.
It's great fun, I would certainly recommend it. But there's fewer and fewer people doing it. 'They never used to be as empty as this.
It's a shame. It's fantastic in the nice weather. 'We've got two families staying basically in one and chilling out all day in it.
It has plenty of room.' She added: 'No other property or investment is doing as well as beach homes. I would absolutely recommend it but people should also enjoy what it offers as well.
' Her friend Simon Berry was visiting with pals and also said he 'loved' the experience. The 42-year-old, of Faversham, Kent, said: 'It's fantastic. When the weather is as nice as it is today there's not many better places to be.
' Anna Rogakou, 45, was relaxing in one by the sea which is owned by a relative, whilst on holiday from Greece - where she works as head of drama at a school. 'I am surprised that it's not as busy as I thought it would be. Quite a few of them are empty,' she said.
'They never used to be as empty as this. It's a shame. It's fantastic in the nice weather,' Imogen said Beach huts do not come up for sale very often and demand is high, according to estate agents The average cost of a beach hut in a good condition in the UK is around £39,382 with some in more desirable locations fetching upwards of six figures 'That is great as it's peaceful but I don't understand why people don't come down here more if they have them.
' Elsewhere in Goring, Sussex, beach hut owner Victoria Russell is also sitting on her very own fortune. Read More Beach huts worth £500,000 are left in tatters after fragile cliff washed away - as council is accused of 'abandoning' them to coastal erosion No matter the weather, her family meet every year at the beach hut which her aunt bought with a friend for £50 in 1957. Although she says she 'would never let' the family heirloom go, she believes it could fetch upwards of £50,000.
'The family would lynch me if I ever sold it,' Victoria said. 'The council take 10 per cent if you sell, but I would never let it go. Fifty quid was a lot back then and my auntie Barbara could only afford half of it.
'It passed to me when she died and all the family meet up as a memorial every year. Luckily, she left it in her will,' she said. Despite the typical British summer weather - high winds and rain - Victoria said the hut is such a part of the family they would never part with it.
'The one a couple down from us went for £56,000 I was told. I live in Worthing and the rest of the family has spread out all over now. Robin Edwards, property buying agent at Curetons Property Finders, he said the rocketing demand of beach huts was a combination of increasingly popular staycations He also explained that the demand for beach huts has consistently outpaced supply with only a finite number of huts available, particularly in prime locations 'My aunt was in her beach hut every day, rain or shine and we had wonderful times here as children.
We will always have it.' According to Victoria, even though beach huts were expensive before COVID-19 lockdown saw them shot up further. 'They were expensive before that, but COVID certainly put the prices up.
'They have always been high because of the location but if you are going to sell, you have to time it right. She continued: 'Obviously, they are worth a lot more in the summer.' However, some owners of the most expensive beach huts in Britain said the 'absurd' prices for them has changed the beauty spot 'not necessarily for the better'.
Read More Britain's most EXPENSIVE beach huts with eye-watering price tags of up half a MILLION pounds The prices of the timber cabins on the Mudeford Sandbank in Christchurch Harbour, Dorset, now stand at about £475,000. The sandy peninsula's remote location - with cars banned and access via a short ferry crossing, a 30 minute walk or a land train ride - is accompanied by stunning views. Because it is not possible to take out a mortgage for a hut, only the very rich can now afford to buy them outright.
And the arrival of 'monied' people from London and the Home Counties is said to be changing the local community, with more and more being rented out. Despite the 'ludicrous' prices most hut owners who have had their cabins for years say they would never sell up. University student Richard Korbey, 29, from Lymington, has been coming to Mudeford since he was a child.
He said: 'My grandparents got the hut in the 1980s. My brothers, sisters, parents and I use it as much as possible, we have no plans to sell. 'I think the appeal is the views and the tranquility, especially being able to enjoy the place early in the morning and late in the evening when the tourists are gone.
'But it never seems to get too busy, it's not like Bournemouth beach. I think because access is a bit more difficult.' Elsewhere in Goring, Sussex, beach hut owners revealed they were too sitting on their very own fortune - even though they could never part with their shacks (pictured: Goring, Sussex) Victoria Russell (pictured) 'would never let' the family heirloom go, but she believes it could fetch upwards of £50,000.
Pam O'Hara. Owners of the most expensive beach huts in Britain said the 'absurd' prices for them has changed the beauty spot 'not necessarily for the better' Dawn Bee, 61, a retired IT worker for British Airways bought her hut in 2004 for about £80,000 when her husband got a bonus Dawn Bee, 61, a retired IT worker for British Airways bought her hut in 2004 for about £80,000 when her husband got a bonus. She and her family travel from Leatherhead in Surrey to use their hut regularly.
She said: 'My parents lived in Boscombe and we used to come here a lot. We've got four children and when the kids were all young we just thought it would be a nice place to be for the kids. 'When the kids were young we would come down every other weekend and in the school holidays.
I love the proximity to the water and the fact it is inaccessible, there are no cars so the kids could run wild. 'There's a real sense of community. In this little block only one has changed hands, the rest are all the same people as when we arrived.
'I'm glad we got it when we did, we wouldn't be able to afford one now. 'I know a couple who would love to give the hut to one of the grandchildren but can't really because it's almost as much as their house so they will have to sell. 'We didn't buy it as an investment, we bought it because we want to be here.
' Caroline and Rob Williams, from Bournemouth, bought theirs in 1998 for £29,500 with some inheritance and borrowing some equity from their house. Caroline, 67, said: 'We rented and had holidays in these beach huts with the children and we loved it and the kids did too. 'We decided to buy when my husband's father passed away and left him some inheritance.
We've never regretted it. 'We're local so we come down a lot, it's probably one of the most used huts. We love everything about it - the freedom, the views, nature, it's the beauty of it.
We do some sailing, kayaking, walks along the head. 'We've made lifelong friends here over the years that we even go on holiday with, it's a real community. Her aunt originally bought the beach hut in Goring, Sussex (pictured) with a friend for £50 in 1957 Phil Snelling and his wife Carlyn purchased their beach hut for £7,000 two decades ago for when they used to jet ski on the Sussex coast (pictured: in Goring, Sussex) University student Richard Korbey, 29, from Lymington, has been coming to Mudeford since he was a child 'We won't consider selling but the problem is the rise in prices makes it unaffordable for families, unless you're rich.
The cost of the lease is so high, our children can't really afford to keep it going, so that is a worry. 'It means you're getting entrepreneur people with lots of money buying them and renting them out. 'You can't get a mortgage on them so people like us wouldn't be able to buy them anymore.
'Because they are so expensive it's a bit more elitist now than it used to be. And because they are so expensive, their expectations are higher.' Christina Vickers, a 44-year-old mum of two and sales manager from Bournemouth, said: 'My parents bought it when I was about 7 or 8 and I think they paid about £5-6,000.
'We've been coming down ever since I was little, renting first. The family all share it. 'I do think the prices are quite ridiculous but we don't really think about it much because we would never sell it.
We don't mind new people coming in, it's a community down here and people that have moved in the last ten years have all fitted in. 'We would do anything to keep it. 'You're so close to the beach, it's an easy way of life and where we come to relax.
' Pam O'Hara, 80, from Farnham, Surrey, has been coming to Mudeford since 1965. She said: 'I would come with my parents and brother. In those days they were all rented for about £100 a year.
I think my parents paid about £1,500 when they bought one when the council decided to sell them off. They believe their humble beach hut could fetch for £30,000, with Phil claiming some in the area were going for £35,000 during lockdown (pictured: Goring, Sussex) Beachgoers walking alongside a string of beach huts on the Sussex coast 'When my dad died in the 1980s it cost me about £8,000 to take it over, I think. 'I had it rebuilt in 2007 and that cost about £35,000.
I think the prices now are absurd. 'You can't get a mortgage on them so it is attracting very monied people, there's bigger boats and all the rest. 'I'm in a difficult position about what to do with my hut.
I have children who I brought up here - I was a teacher so we would have six weeks here in the summer. But now one lives in France and one is local but self-employed so I can't see it going on in the family once I'm gone.' Adrian Yule, 59, a retired doctor who lives in Christchurch, said: 'It's been in our family since before the Second World War.
I think my dad's great aunt bought it. I have no idea what she paid, probably only something like £100. 'We have had it for about 30 years and paid £4-5,000.
We have spent every summer down here since we were kids, it was our only holiday in the summer. 'It was basic back then. There were no showers, we would bathe under a cold tap but we still loved it.
It was a different way of life and just beautiful. 'It has changed a lot, and not necessarily for the better, but we would never sell. The value is more of an irritation for us because it makes the council bump up the ground rent.
'They think everybody down here is wealthy but lots of people can't afford to replace the huts and can barely afford the ground rent. 'It's pushing people out, which is really sad.' A snapshot of a cream beach hut on the Goring coast named Aunt Bar's Beach Hut Beach huts do not come up for sale very often and demand is high, according to estate agents Savills .
The average cost of a beach hut in a good condition in the UK is around £39,382, according to InsureMy . But coastal shacks in desirable locations such as Dorset sell for upwards of £123,424 on average. Phil Snelling and his wife Carlyn purchased their beach hut for £7,000 two decades ago for when they used to jet ski on the Sussex coast.
'There were a group of about 10 or 12 of us who all had jet skis and we used it as somewhere to have tea,' Phil said. The 67-year-old, now a semi-retired landscape gardening business owner, and his wife braved the elements on a rainy Saturday to do a bit of DIY on their hut. Read More Live the 1940s beach life! Retro hut with stunning views of the Isle of Wight can be yours for less than £70,000 'They do get damaged by the weather and pretty much everybody has been broken into at some point,' Phil said.
'If we were to sell, it would be about £30,000. In lockdown, they were going for £35,000,' Phil said. The hut is used mainly by the children and grandchildren who all live in Horsham, but the couple have no intentions of selling up any time soon.
'We'd never sell it now. We'll pass it on to the kids,' he quipped. When MailOnline asked Robin Edwards, property buying agent at Curetons Property Finders, he said the rocketing demand of beach huts was a combination of increasingly popular staycations.
'The rise of staycations, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, has meant that more people than ever are looking for local UK holiday options,' he added. 'Beach huts offer a unique nostalgic and quintessentially British experience that appeals to many. 'Traditional holiday homes can be prohibitively expensive, whereas beach huts can - or at least used to be! - a more affordable alternative for a seaside retreat, albeit with more limited amenities.
' He also explained that the demand for beach huts has consistently outpaced supply with only a finite number of huts available, particularly in prime locations. Ms Edwards added: 'This coupled with strict planning laws and the protected status of many UK coastal areas means new beach huts are rarely ever built. A small beach hut with no running water or power is up for grabs in Swanage, Dorset to the tune of £70,000 Inside the 8ft by 5ft timber cabin there are some hooks, shelves and a storage bench (pictured) 'This limited supply exacerbates the demand and competition among potential buyers only further drives prices up.
'Beach huts have also started to become seen as a good investments with many, as we've seen appreciating hugely in value, often far outstripping house price rises in some areas.' This comes shortly after a beach hut in Swanage, Dorset, was put on the market for £70,000. But it comes with a catch as 8ft by 5ft timber cabin has no power, no running water and is very sparse inside.
And with only a few hooks for towels, a storage bench, worktop and shelves inside, the small hut located on the private coastal estate is on sale for tens of thousands. Although the property doesn't boast a flurry of assets, it does have unparalleled sea views over the beauty spots Old Harry Rocks and The Needles on the Isle of Wight. Estate agents DOMVS are anticipating quite the bit of interest in the property, pointing out it is a 'rare opportunity' to purchase a privately-owned beach hut.
But despite its lack of amenities on the inside, it does boast sensational seaside views of North Beach in Dorset (pictured) In Swanage the local council own most of the beach huts, with 15 per cent being privately owned and even fewer available on a freehold basis. As this small property is a freehold prospective buyers will not have to fork out thousands on ground rent. Read More This £4.
5million dream Cornish home with sea view could be yours for just a tenner in Omaze draw Not only does this tiny hideaway have incredible views and no ground rent, it also will allow its future owner access to the the privately-owned North Beach. Swanage Beach - as a whole - has been awarded with the coveted Blue Flag for 23 years in a row due to its golden sand and glistening clear waters. With a veranda couple with shuttered double stable doors, the prospective hut owner will be able to overlook the seaside from the comfort of their hut.
It also has a loft space for additional storage, a reinforced concrete roof and treated timber framework - serving as a robust structure. There is also access to public toilets and fresh water nearby and although the huts have no power, some have fitted solar panels so they can produce electricity. The hut is available on a freehold basis meaning unlike beach huts 18 miles down the road in Mudeford prospective owners won't have to fork out thousands on ground rent Swanage Beach has been awarded with the coveted Blue Flag for 23 years in a row due to its golden sand and glistening clear waters There is also access to public toilets and fresh water nearby and although the huts have no power some owners have decided to install solar panels to produce their own energy (pictured: a view from the beach hut) John Beauchamp, from DOMVS, said: 'The popularity of beach huts continues to rise, not least because of their investment potential - locally huts can rent for upwards of £200 per week in the height of summer.
'This one is as good as it gets in Swanage. The views are simply breathtaking and its position on the promenade provides both convenience and seclusion. 'We're excited to find a new owner who will appreciate its unique charm.
' Jenny Mosley, the current owner, who has had the hut for a decade, said: 'This beach hut has been a cherished retreat for me and my family, offering countless moments of relaxation and joy. 'We've lovingly renovated it and I'm confident that the next owner will create their own wonderful memories here. It's a special place that I'm sad to part with but excited for the next chapter in its story.
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