A three-bedroom terraced home on a smart suburban street has gone on the market for £175,000 – but there is a catch.
At first glance, this property in Reading, Berkshire, with its charming whitewashed exterior and quaint chimney stack, seems like an absolute steal.
It seems ideal on paper, offering plenty of space for family life and nestled among other equally attractive properties, with two sweet red-brick homes neighbouring it.
The house is also located in the commuter belt, just an hour’s train ride from London, making it perfect for anyone needing to be in close reach of the capital.
And all this for substantially less than the average house price in the town, which was £346,000 in June this year, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
But behind its charming facade, prospective homeowners and developers alike will be shocked to discover a rather different story.
The kitchen and toilet seem to be absolutely riddled with black mould.
Though not mentioned explicitly on the property listing, a presence of the fungus could explain the dark, grim patches covering both rooms.
A three-bedroom terraced home (pictured) on a smart suburban street has gone on the market for £175,000 – but there is a catch
But behind its charming facade, buyers and developers alike will be shocked to discover a rather different story. The kitchen and toilet (pictured) are absolutely riddled with black mould
All that remains of the kitchen facilities (pictured) are a boiler and a worse-for-wear sink – with a hob or washing machine nowhere to be seen
Many of the cupboard doors appear to have been gutted in the kitchen, along with a substantial number of floor tiles.
All that remains of the kitchen facilities are a boiler and a worse-for-wear sink – with a hob or washing machine nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, the cistern of the toilet has come loose and the seat and bowl are blackened with grime, with the ceiling covered in cobwebs.
The shower room next door seems not much better, with the tiles, grout and window apparently similarly unable to escape what looks like it could be black mould.
The health implications of the fungus can be serious if it is left unchecked, releasing its spores into the air in their thousands.
People living with it are at risk of developing respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma, finding themselves coughing, wheezing and feeling breathless.
The NHS spends around £1.4billion per year treating illnesses related to living in cold or damp housing, according to a 2021 report by building research organisation BRE.
The attic of the home is seemingly less affected by the apparent black mould – but it is covered in graffiti and what appear to be damp patches instead.
The attic of the home (pictured) is seemingly less affected by the apparent black mould – but it is covered in graffiti and what appear to be damp patches instead
The floor, radiator and skirting boards of this room are also dirty and paint-splattered.
It appears to be in need of a complete update, with many of the fixtures and fittings in complete disarray.
But despite being covered in filth, it is clear to see the rooms are enormous and could offer a beautiful home if a dedicated renovator got their hands on it.
The attic especially is full of natural light, with a high window and skylight allowing the sunbeams to stream in.
Indeed, the property listing notes the home has ‘potential for improvement’.
And whoever its eventual buyer is will apparently get an excellent deal – the home sold for £272,000 a few months ago, according to Rightmove.
This is nearly an eye-watering £100,000 more than it is now on the market for.
It comes after another three-bedroom property was put up for sale which is similarly attractive at first glance – concealing some work to be done within.
It comes after another three-bedroom property (pictured) was put up for sale which is similarly attractive at first glance – concealing some work to be done within
With three bedrooms, a grand hallway, sitting room (pictured) and dining room, the house was an attractive option for home buyers
But house hunters pointed out a bizarre feature you would not expect to see in the living room. It has a toilet and sink in the corner (pictured), in full view of anyone else in there
The semi-detached house in Worcester was snapped up by a bidder after going under the hammer for the first time.
Bidding for the house started at a provisional auction price of £160,000 but considerable interest saw it sell for some £42,000 more.
With three bedrooms, a grand hallway, sitting room and dining room, the house was an attractive option for home buyers.
The property also came with a utility room, a spacious kitchen and a large family bathroom.
It even came with a three chamber cellar, but that is not the most unusual feature of the house.
However, house hunters pointed out a bizarre feature which you would not expect to see in the living room.
The living room of the property has a toilet and sink in the corner of the room, in full view of anyone else in there.
