A four-bedroom home in the picturesque village of Mortimer Common, Berkshire, is up for grabs at a tempting price of £475,000. But there's a catch: this seemingly ordinary house has a massive hidden flaw. The detached period property, described by estate agents as a former grand historic house with potential, is actually a fire-ravaged shell. The storm and fire damage in September left the house with no roof, collapsed upper floors, and bricks spilling everywhere. Despite the extensive damage, the property boasts a generous 0.29-acre plot and is being marketed as an 'exceptional opportunity' for buyers with big dreams. The listing highlights the site's 'excellent potential' for building a replacement home or a small residential scheme, subject to securing the necessary planning permission. However, the house-hunters have been mocking the upbeat listing online, especially on Reddit's Spotted on Rightmove forum. One user wrote, 'I'd have to get a survey done because that roof looks a little leaky.' Another joked, 'Are you allowed to call it a bedroom if there’s no roof?' A local resident explained what happened, writing, 'It was empty for a long time, then suddenly the roof collapsed at the left-hand end. Kids got in and lit a fire and the resulting damage brought down the right-hand side. The rest has been slowly collapsing.' Despite the house's current state, it still has an Energy Performance Certificate rating of 'F' on Rightmove, the second-lowest band possible. The listing features no photos of the interior of the damaged property and notes that the EPC certificate was issued 'prior to the incident that caused significant damage to the property.' The price of £475,000 seems to be based on the assumption that buyers will be able to secure planning permission to build a new home, as one user commented, 'You're paying for the plot in that location with the assumption you'll be able to get planning permission.' The property on West End Road was originally listed higher but reduced recently to attract potential buyers. Site visits are by appointment only, with no internal access permitted due to safety concerns.
