Smallest stand-alone house in Chelsea for sale for 100% more than it was offered for in 2017; there’s barely room to swing a cat
Described as “small but beautiful” by its purchaser Robin Swailes in 2017, a former gravedigger’s cottage in Britten Street, Chelsea, SW3 has gone on sale for double its last asking price.
Just 8-foot wide, but now increased in size with the addition of an undemised roof terrace to its second floor, the 290 square foot house – once dubbed by the Mirror as “London’s smallest detached house” – has been renovated by its current owner and is now described by selling agents Harding Green as “highly distinctive” and “characterful.”
With just an open plan sitting room and kitchen and a minute shower room to the ground floor, the property has a bedroom above and that’s about that.
Of it, on social media, Amit Karia sensibly concluded: “A one-bedroom house, narrower than the length of an average car… If I don’t look at the price… A great size for an Airbnb for a business trip or a quick weekend.” Responding, a lady named Lucy Armitage answered: “The world has gone completely mad.”
What on earth would the legendary Roy Brooks have made of this pad? Aside from offering up that it might “not have enough room to swing a cat,” he would no doubt have approved that the marketing agents have stuck a bottle of Dom Perignon next to some tiny bar stools. Whoever is crazy enough to part with £1.2 million will no doubt be able to glad to at least be able to neck that as they ruminate on their very, very expensive pint-sized purchase.
The Names & Numbers – 20 Britten Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 3TU, United Kingdom
September 2022 – Offered for sale for £1.2 million ($1.4 million, €1.4 million or درهم5.1 million) by Harding Green.
March 2017 – Sold for 19% above the asking price for £713,823 ($832,877, €821,921 or درهم3.1 million) to 54-year-old Robin Swailes, a businessman and director of North Oxford Property Services. Of his purchase, Mr Swailes told the Mirror: “Everyone dreams of owning a detached house in central London. It is small but beautiful and we’re going to renovate it and use it as a pied-à-terre.”
February 2017 – Offered for sale for £600,000 ($700,000, €691,000 or درهم2.6 million) by Douglas & Gordon.
