Family pays £930,000 ‘to buy a new lifestyle’

The much-anticipated sale by auction of Leafy Cove, a derelict cottage at Grand Havre, drew a big crowd and some bids. The property ended up in a two-way battle and was eventually secured for £930,000.

The two-bed cottage has been empty for decades and was considered to be in too dangerous a condition for anyone to step inside.

Although the highest bidder wished to remain anonymous, the Guernsey Press was told the property was sold to a family, not developers.

Auctioneer Trevor Cooper, director at Cooper Brouard estate agents, said £930,000 was a ‘middle amount’ and he would not have been surprised if the property had sold for £1m.

‘We are selling a lifestyle here,’ he said. ‘It’s a once in a generation opportunity in a much-loved setting that has barely changed in 200 years.’

The run-down property with an attractive view across the bay had generated strong public interest, and about 250 people turned out for the outdoor action.

The cottage, last bought almost 25 years ago, had been left to deteriorate for years.

‘The owner bought it at an auction himself in 1998 and he was quite adamant it would be sold in an auction,’ Mr Cooper added.

‘It’s being bought for a family to work on and enjoy and use themselves – it is not a developer that has bought it.’

Islanders spilled out onto the road and into neighbouring properties to watch the auction, which began at £800,000 and ended with two bidders fighting for the top price.

‘This is not one for the faint-hearted, but the piece at the end is beyond measure,’ Mr Cooper said.

‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – they don’t come up often like this.’

Although it was unusual for so many to attend an auction, he was not surprised due to the property’s potential.

‘It’s not what it is, it’s what it could be. People have come to see for themselves.’

The highest bidder was required to sign the conditions of sale and pay a 10% deposit on the day, with the conveyance set to take place on 14 July.

Cooper Brouard local market negotiator Ben McVey said Leafy Cove had a lot of public interest.

‘It is a great result and a fantastic turnout,’ he said. ‘We have shown a lot of people around.’

The property might be in a bad state, but it went for well above the average Guernsey property price of £573,155.

The cottage had an expensive view, according to Vale junior constable Bill Cohu, who said the area was attractively close to the shore but was sheltered.

‘They have paid for the view, not the house,’ he said. ‘It was surprising to actually see it [the house] there because it was buried in bushes before.’

He looked forward to how the property would turn out.

‘The other cottages which have been done up near it are beautiful places,’ he said. ‘I’m surprised it didn’t go for a bit more.’