A two-bedroom holiday bungalow in Freshwater, Isle of Wight, has gone to market with a guide price of just £5,000, but the property sits just yards from a rapidly eroding cliff edge. Estate agents Pittis describe the property as an 'immaculate brick built holiday bungalow' with 'breathtaking sea views' and a short stroll to Colwell Bay beach.
However, the low price reflects the property's precarious location on one of the UK's fastest-eroding coastlines. Aerial photographs show the back of the bungalow is only a few metres from the cliff edge, which has receded inland over the years due to coastal erosion. Two neighbouring properties were condemned and demolished in 2024 after being deemed unsafe.
Emma Carter, a councillor on Freshwater parish council, said coastal erosion has been 'quite considerable in the past three years'. She noted recent slips caused by wet weather and described being near the cliff edge as unsafe in windy conditions. The property is a holiday home, restricted to 41 weeks of occupancy per year under planning law, and is not subject to the council tax premium.
Buyers must pay a non-refundable reservation fee of 4.5% of the purchase price (minimum £6,000 including VAT) plus a £349 buyer information pack fee. The listing advises that the price 'reflects the proximity to the cliff edge' and that viewings by appointment are taking place on Saturday, February 7, ahead of the online auction. The property is subject to an undisclosed reserve price.
