Derelict coastal house to go up for auction

Cooper Brouard local market negotiator Ben McVey said they could not be entirely sure what was inside Leafy Cove – a Victorian cottage on the eastern side of Grande Havre.

‘We can’t get in because it’s too dangerous,’ he said.

‘We expect it is a two-bedroom cottage inside. For a lot of people, this will be a knock-down job.’

The property was last sold in June 1998 for £325,000, a relatively high price at the time, when £287,000 would have got you a three-bedroom barn conversion at L’Ancresse.

Mr McVey said the current owner had not got around to doing anything with the property and it had fallen into disrepair for many years.

He said in his five years in the industry, this was the most run-down property he had seen. ‘It’s a really interesting one.'

The position – metres from the shore of the bay – means the site is commanding a premium.

‘It’s something quite special,’ Mr McVey said.

‘With the market as it is, this will achieve the best price on it. It is very difficult to value.’

The poor state of the structure means that it is not possible to get a mortgage on the site. But that has not deterred people.

The World Aid Walk went past the cottage's front door at the beginning of the month, and the for sale sticker in the window attracted interest.

Mr McVey added that with L’Abbaye shut, drivers were being diverted along La Garenne and right past the property’s front door.

These has led for a busy time at the estate agents.

‘On the first day we had 30 emails about it,’ he said.

‘It’s had a great response. We have had quite a few potential buyers doing the numbers already. We expect it to be a busy auction.’

The property is not listed, but it is within the Vale Church conservation area and overlooks an area of biodiversity importance.

Anyone looking to buy the property at auction will need to pay 10% of the winning bid on the day and sign conditions of sale.

n The auction takes place at the property at 2pm on Thursday 9 June.