Garages, beach huts, woods etc

chucknorris

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yes, you buy the hut and have a license to occupy the land, along with all sorts of rules about what you can/can't do. You rent the space it stands on and that's it. Then, when you sell, you pay a transfer fee.

The "cheap" ones near me are up to £50k, the expensive ones start at about £200k.... and you still don't own the sand it sits on.

You've no car access - if you want to maintain it there are rules as to what you can do and when - you can't stay in them overnight - you can't have BBQs - you can't paint them in any colour you want. There's no running water and no electricity and even the amount of gas you can store in the hut is restricted (e.g. one small canister).

The £200k+ ones you can sleep in overnight, under certain conditions/in certain months only. Still no water/electricity - just a public loo block and standing taps for water.

You don't buy a hut for comfort/enjoyment - it's more about "being seen to own one, making you posher than those that don't"

When you think about it, apart from the obvious one (planning) it is hard to see why beach huts were so popular, but similar type things haven't caught on in other places like inland lakes etc. If I owned a lake (in an area of outstanding beauty) I would be trying to get something similar built to sell/rent to picnickers etc. (all done in a sympathetic way of course).

PasturesNew

chucknorris wrote: »

When you think about it, apart from the obvious one (planning) it is hard to see why beach huts were so popular, but similar type things haven't caught on in other places like inland lakes etc. If I owned a lake (in an area of outstanding beauty) I would be trying to get something similar built to sell/rent to picnickers etc. (all done in a sympathetic way of course).

They're great because you've "got your spot", you're sheltered from the breeze/drizzle of the British weather (especially outside of the two peak warmish months), you don't have to lug all your stuff backwards and forwards, so you can accumulate a little bit of comfort around you.

It's just a nice idea to have a guaranteed spot, sheltered, that's already got your cossie, towels, boogie board, warm fleece, plates/cups, wind up radio and a few books ..... all you have to do is turn up, open up and sit in it without all that packing/lugging.... somewhere to change your clothes too without wrestling a big towel in the wind on the beach.

chucknorris

PasturesNew wrote: »

They're great because you've "got your spot", you're sheltered from the breeze/drizzle of the British weather (especially outside of the two peak warmish months), you don't have to lug all your stuff backwards and forwards, so you can accumulate a little bit of comfort around you.

It's just a nice idea to have a guaranteed spot, sheltered, that's already got your cossie, towels, boogie board, warm fleece, plates/cups, wind up radio and a few books ..... all you have to do is turn up, open up and sit in it without all that packing/lugging.... somewhere to change your clothes too without wrestling a big towel in the wind on the beach.

I get it, I imagine that some of them have been a source family tradition as well, as in days out etc. (I don't live near the coast, although maybe that is more reason to have one).

PasturesNew

chucknorris wrote: »

I get it, I imagine that some of them have been a source family tradition as well, as in days out etc. (I don't live near the coast, although maybe that is more reason to have one).

If they cost £20k and I could walk to one and if there were no license fee/rent etc .... then I'd definitely buy one and keep it "for life". But they're a very expensive shed. If I had £1200/year "spare" that could be more usefully deployed in 101 more useful ways.

Even if one were to go 100x in a year, that's £12/visit. Instead I could visit 100 different beaches and pay £7 parking for the day and sit in the boot of my car .... and still have change for a chip supper on the way home.

sebadee

I am planning on doing a garage office conversion if anyone knows any advice.

Spidernick

padington wrote: »

What's your thoughts ?

Does this guy even realise that he's spelt his user name wrongly?

padington

Spidernick wrote: »

Does this guy even realise that he's spelt his user name wrongly?

Paddington is a bear. I'm not.

That's my poor defence and I'm sticking to it. That and possibly too many shandy's.

chazsucks

The beach we go to there is a huge waiting list for the huts, when one becomes available it's by sealed bids so although the guide price is around 30-50k they often go for a LOT more.

Then when you own one you pay the lease, a few grand a year, plus yearly admin charges.

If you want to sell, again you have to pay

The daily car parking charge is £8 and there is no on-road parking for miles.

They are tiny, there are restrictions on what you can keep in them, how you can paint them and times you can use them. Absolutely no use overnight even the most expensive ones.

The beach hut dream died a long time ago for us!

padington

PasturesNew wrote: »

If that were to occur, in, say, 20-25 years' time, those garages would be used for either storing cr4p that small houses don't have room for -or- redevelopment into rows of studio flats. Could be a better investment for the "lucky", who would, of course, then call themselves "savvy".

Think we're looking at London being pretty transformed in just 15 years by self drive cars.

I imagine before that Ally Pally will link with Wood Green employing this technology (that everyone will want to play with) and using a simple route which should be able to trial the cars as a London first before they go properly free roaming.

patman99

Don't write-off woods as an investment.
Woods consist of trees. These can be cut and sold for timber and new trees planted.