Beach hut sales taking a dip after Covid boom

Estate agent Simon Mitchell said prices during the Covid pandemic became inflated

An estate agent believes the beach hut property bubble might have burst in Devon after prices became inflated during the Covid pandemic.

The seafront structures have become popular real estate in the UK with asking prices for sales often hitting six figures, including one currently for sale in Teignmouth for £175,000 despite having no electricity or running water.

However, estate agents in Devon said they were finding beach huts are generally not being sold for as high prices at the moment.

Simon Mitchell from Harding and Co estate agents in Bideford said sellers are still expecting high prices, but a number of issues are preventing this.

'Eyebrow-raising figures'

Mr Mitchell said buying a beach hut had become quite a cheap way of owning a coastal property during the pandemic as people looked to getaway from cities.

Mr Mitchell said: "Prices got a bit inflated coming out of Covid as people were migrating to the coast in their thousands and buying property.

"We were selling things for quite eyebrow-raising amounts of money and that has sort of stuck a bit over the next couple of years.

"We've come a bit unstuck because I think people are still expecting to get those sort of prices, but of course with everything else going on in the world right now that looks like it might not be possible."

The poor summer weather this year might also be impacting beach hut sales, estate agent Simon Mitchell said

Mr Harding said poor summer weather has also had a negative impact on sales as it has made it harder to sell.

"You're trying to sell a lifestyle thing here," he said.

"That obviously hasn't been very possible in the rain, the wind and the poor temperatures".

The beach hut with the yellow door is on the market for £175,000