Why this tiny shack is asking $3 million

A retro cottage that hasn’t had a facelift in 70 years is asking big bucks in an English seaside town. 

On one side of the shack is a block of flats. On the other is a three-way intersection where vans and trucks regularly chug by. 

But that hasn’t dimmed price hopes for the property, which is on the market for nearly $3 million. 

The 1950s cottage is located in Sandbanks, one of Britain’s most affluent coastal enclaves.

Everyone from Oasis’s Liam Gallagher to former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott call the neighbourhood home. 

The drawcard is the beach: a five kilometre stretch of clear water and ‘golden’ sand that regularly ranks among the UK’s best. 

It may be underwhelming by Australian standards, but locals are prepared to spend over $2 million for a typical house in the area. 

Houses with uninterrupted water views – like the retro cottage – can fetch even higher prices.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house is a classic of its era.

Boxy aluminium windows and brown tiles dominate the exterior, while the inside is fitted with beige carpet and vertical blinds. 

In the kitchen and bedrooms, built-in cabinetry provides ample storage space. 

The main bathroom is serviced by a mirrored corner bath and bidet. 

The listing by Lloyds Property Group bills the property as “a rare opportunity to acquire a prime coastal home with enormous potential”. 

The new owners may have the opportunity to demolish the home and replace it with a contemporary beach pad, subject to council approval. 

The property is on the market for £1.4 million ($2.92 million). 

It was originally listed at the start of the month for £1.7 million ($3.5 million). The asking price has since been reduced.