13-07-2025
How you can still buy a cheap beach hut
First appearing on our beaches in the 18th century as wheeled bathing machines pulled into the sea, modern-day beach huts are highly sought after, changing hands for tens of thousands of pounds and even more.
Their limited numbers, many handed down through generations, have driven prices skyward since the 1990s.
The most extreme example is on the Dorset headland of Hengistbury Head. On the odd occasion huts do come to market, sellers price them between £350,000 and £500,000 such is the exclusivity of the area and scarcity of beach huts.
'Modern beach huts have been around in the form we recognise for more than a century and a quarter,' said Dr Kathryn Ferry, author of 20th Century Seaside Architecture.
'They are part of the backdrop to our seaside holidays, they're bright and colourful, photogenic and quintessentially British.'
While local councils have added a small number of huts to the overall stock, there remains only around 30,000 in the country, said Dr Ferry.
'That is a pretty small number when you consider how much coastline we have,' she added.
But you don't need to drop half a million on a hut. There are ways you can cut costs – Telegraph Money explains how.
1. Compromise on location
Just like when buying a home, location is everything. The best way to shave the most off the price of your beach hut is to avoid the most popular and exclusive resorts and keep your eye out for areas undergoing redevelopment or lesser-known neighbouring villages.
The Essex coastline is a prime example of how much prices can vary depending on which stretch of the beach you have your eye on, said Jo Lowery, founder of beach hut hire company Cool Coastal Huts.
'Frinton has always been the most expensive and has a posher label to it than Clacton and Walton, which are cheaper and sit on either side. But you're still getting the same golden sandy beach,' said Jo, who owns five huts in Essex. 'Walton used to be quite run down but now it's up-and-coming, making it a good place to invest in a beach hut.'
At the time of writing you can buy a beach hut near Clacton for £32,500 whereas one in Frinton will set you back around £50,000.
On the Sussex coast in Brighton, choosing the quieter spot of Lancing over Hove's busy seafront could save you money. Over in Suffolk, buyers are likely to pay less for a hut in Lowestoft (£35,000 at the time of writing) than Southwold (£135,000).
2. Pick a fixer-upper
The condition of the hut has the second biggest influence over price, after location. Some huts are empty shells or have a basic fit of benches and a stove compared to luxury huts which can resemble small apartments with kitchenettes.
Others have fallen into disrepair, particularly if an owner has struggled to keep up with the external maintenance of the wood which is prone to rot.
For a hut in need of complete repair and modernisation, you can expect to pay £6,000 to bring it up to basic standard, driven up by the high cost of timber, and up to £12,000 for a more luxurious finish.
Because they are in high demand, beach huts tend to hold their value, according to Insure My, so there's a decent chance you will make back at least the money you invest.
3. Go for the second row
Many beaches have rows of huts with the front row claiming the best, uninterrupted view of the shoreline. However, huts on the second row can be up to half the price while benefitting from more privacy. They are often elevated too, accessed by wooden stairs, which means that you are not necessarily forfeiting the sea view.
4. Forgo amenities
Beach huts typically do not have running water, which makes being close to showers, toilets and a tap to fill up a kettle all desirable features. Choosing a hut that is further away from the toilet could give you extra bargaining power to drive down the price.
5. Share with family or friends
Club together to buy a beach hut with your family or friends and strike up a private time-share agreement allocating a particular month or fortnight to each. Avoid fights breaking out by rotating the weeks each year to make it fair. By clubbing together, you can also share the cost of the annual licence fee and upkeep.
6. Avoid agents
Beach huts are marketed by local estate agents and will pop up on the Rightmove and Zoopla portals. But a trick to getting the best price is to walk up and down the beach front keeping your eye out for signs stuck to the front of huts advertising they are for sale privately.
Hire a hut and speak to the neighbours to find out if they know of any owners who are considering selling up. Sellers are more willing to do a deal if they can avoid paying thousands of pounds to an estate agent.
7. Try before you buy
Avoid making any costly mistakes by hiring a beach hut first. That way you can try out different stretches of a coastline to find out which location suits you the best.
If you are looking to save money by compromising on the location, it is worth spending some time in the place you find to make sure you enjoy it. It is also a good opportunity to test how long it takes you to get there.
Like purchase prices, beach hut rental costs vary greatly depending on size and location. They can range from around £50 a day to over £100 in sought-after areas.
