Most expensive-ever council house due to go under the hammer

Savills is due to auction a property on Monday which is likely to be the most expensive council house on record.

With a guide price of £2.3m, it could make much more, given the interest the sale is already generating.

The property, which displays a 19th century ‘Take Courage’ advert on one of its outside walls, is semi-derelict and is being sold by Southwark Council.

Dating from around 1820, it is thought to have originally been used as a home for managers or directors of the Anchor Brewery, then thought to be the biggest brewery in the world, and which was then acquired by Courage, which slapped its own branding on the house.

Southwark Council has used the property as council housing, while the self-contained basement has been used most recently as an office.


Cllr Ian Wingfield said: “Selling council homes is not something I would ordinarily advocate, but this is a no-brainer in terms of the capital we’ll receive to invest back into housing, for improving existing stock and new-build.”

The building is Grade II listed and will need structural repair to create two or possibly more homes in a now highly fashionable area of London close to the Shard.

Chris Coleman-Smith, head of auctions at Savills, said: “We think this will be the most expensive council home ever sold, and we’re delighted that the proceeds of sale will contribute to creating more housing in the borough.”

The auction is at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, at 9am on Monday.