Cheapest house in Wales goes under the hammer
IF YOU like the idea of a bargain, maybe £12k for an end of terrace house sounds like a bit of a steal – but that’s the guide price for what is currently the cheapest house for sale in Wales.
This traditional Valleys house might have seen better days as a warm and welcoming home but if a new owner can secure the property somewhere near the auctioneer’s guide price they will have what most people would suggest is a bit of a bargain.
Of course, the house could, and most likely will, sell for much higher at the online property auction.
And once a new owner opens the front door, the level of work needed to revive this former home may be higher than they expected too if they haven’t had an onsite viewing of the property prior to auction.
Located on a residential street of classic Valleys terrace houses, this property has the benefit of a surprise view – not another row of terraces creating a perfectly symmetrical road of houses, but a pretty hillside laden with trees; definitely a bonus.
Of course, with the level of work required inside, there won’t be much time for admiring the hillside location of this property in Maerdy, Rhondda.
But it is located in a pretty position to step out of the property and away from the dust and noise and take a break from the renovation work and enjoy a cuppa.
There’s a back garden too that has views of the rooftops of the streets below to the hillside on the opposite side of the Rhondda Fach valley.
But enough admiring views, there’s plenty of work to be done, as the auction house selling the property says the house requires a full programme of modernisation.
Step inside the house and some of the hard work has been done for a new owner, with all rooms clear of any clutter and most clear of any plaster on the walls too.
Back to brick is not a bad state to find the house in; it is likely that this would need to happen anyway to see the house in its raw condition before a full rewire and replumb commences, so that’s one job ticked off the ‘to do’ list.
The front reception room has a large window looking out over the hillside view and the remains of a former fireplace before it flows into the adjacent dining room via a semi open-plan doorway in the dividing wall.
The back to brick state of the dining room has revealed a former brick fireplace which, once restored and a log burner added, would make a welcoming feature within this period property.
The fireplace is a charming added bonus and provides a special space to gather around the fire on a cold winter’s evening, as surely many previous residents must have done in the past.
But this house is bigger than it first appears, with the downstairs offering three distinct rooms that are connected – the lounge, the dining room and the kitchen.
The kitchen at the back, which only houses a fridge and freezer at the moment, leads to a small bathroom beyond.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms, so a new owner may consider reconfiguring the layout, depending on the future of the house.
Making space for an upstairs shower room would be ideal for any future tenants or a homeowner.
For the resale market arguably it all depends on the sums, whether it is cost-effective to move or add a bathroom upstairs, and that again depends on what price the virtual hammer finally falls on this auction lot. Time to get the calculator out. An upstairs shower room would make the house more sellable, but a downstairs bathroom is a very common occurrence within these traditional terrace homes; choices, choices.
There’ll be no choice on having to spend budget on making the house wholly habitable again, though.
Sean Roper, of Paul Fosh Auctions, says: “This is a traditional end of terrace property which requires full modernisation and this is reflected in the low guide price at auction of just £12,000.
“The house is situated in a wellestablished residential location close to local amenities with wonderful views across the countryside and is close to the Heads of the Valleys trunk road (A465) and the Brecon Beacons National Park.
“The property could provide a great opportunity for a builder or an investor as it offers scope to refurbish and sell or for buy to let.”
The future of this house depends on how far bidders are willing to go with their budget when the house goes to online auction with a guide price of £12,000, with the minimum bid set at just £8,000.
You never know, if you’re lucky you could bag this bargain building for the same price as a second-hand family car.
■ Bidding opens on the Paul Fosh Auctions website at noon on Tuesday, April 27, and closes at 5.04pm on Thursday, April 29.