Million-pound cliffside cottage won’t sell as buyers fear it will crumble into sea

A cliffside cottage boasting enviable sea views and a gorgeous thatched roof is proving remarkably hard to sell.

Located in Sidmouth, Devon, the three-bedroom detached home is valued at more than £1,000,000.

But it turns out that playing host to ‘some of the finest panoramic sea and coastal views’ in the country has its downsides – as the property is said to be at risk of crumbling into the sea.

The current owners paid £695,000 in June 2011 for the property, whose normal market value is listed at between £1,100,000 and £1,600,000.

But when it went under the hammer on Tuesday, it remained unsold despite a reservation price of just £250,000 – less than a quarter of its value.

The property boasts an enclosed garden with a wooden gate, which leads towards the cliff edge around 40ft away – which gives way to a 120ft drop.

The area is known as the Jurassic Coast. Known for being home to many fossils, the cliffs there are made of soft red sandstone, which is known to collapse suddenly.

The council regularly has to close beaches hit by spontaneous rockfall from the cliffs above.

In 2024, part of the cliff edge fell near the property, bringing it even closer to the precipice. This followed another rock fall, which saw a large portion of cliff crumble at Jacob’s Ladder Beach a few hundred meters away.

The listing said: ‘The property has in recent years suffered a cliff fall within the very far boundary of the garden.

‘A full cliff survey can be seen within the legal pack.’ 

But the regular rockfall is thought to have put off potential buyers after just three bidders put in an offer for the property, the highest of which was £249,000.

It is understood the owner is looking for further offers and may put the property up for auction again in the future.

The listing added: ‘Occupying a spectacular cliff-top position, this unique detached thatched residence enjoys some of the finest panoramic sea and coastal views in East Devon, stretching along the Jurassic Coast. 

‘Designed and built in the 1960s for renowned novelist R.F. Delderfield, this distinctive home features an imaginative circular design that maximises natural light and captures the breathtaking outlook from many of the principal rooms. 

‘Beautifully presented throughout, the accommodation includes a bespoke integrated kitchen, an impressive sitting room with French doors opening onto terraces, a versatile dining room/bedroom three, two generous first-floor bedrooms, a contemporary bathroom and an en-suite. 

‘The mature landscaped gardens provide exceptional privacy and seclusion, with terraces, ornamental pond, lawns and colorful planting all enjoying stunning coastal vistas. 

‘A garage and extensive driveway parking complete this rare opportunity to acquire one of Sidmouth’s most iconic and beautifully positioned homes.’