A STALYBRIDGE home left badly damaged when a tornado struck the town has been sold for £147,000 – despite having no roof.
The property on Hough Hill Road suffered catastrophic damage when winds of up to 160mph swept through in late December.
But despite its condition, with only plastic sheeting covering it and it being surrounded by scaffolding, the three-bedroomed end terrace, which comes with a study, was placed up for auction.
And when the hammer went down on Wednesday, June 19, bids had reached £147,000 – more than double its guide price of £72.000.
The buyer will now have to buy new scaffolding as it was stated in the sale’s legal documents.
There is also severe water ingress, serious damage to plaster and floorboards and its walls were left in poor condition following the freak events of December 27, 2023.
Many properties, including the one sold, were left with either no roof or severe damage to it as Storm Gerritt battered the country.
Many people caught up in it described it as like a twister seen in America or in Hollywood films.
And the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) classed it as one of T5 rating – halfway up the 10-stage International Tornado Intensity Scale.
Described as an ‘Intense Tornado,’ it means winds were at speeds of between 62 and 72 metres per second, or 137 and 160 miles per hour.
Scaffolding surrounds many buildings in the area as repairs are still taking place, including at the neighbouring property as when The Correspondent visited the area, workers were arriving.
One in the Millbrook area still has an open section in its roof.
This home, owned by John Baines, took less than three hours to surpass its guide price and meet its confidential reserve.
And no-one was under any illusions about what they were buying.
In sale documents, it states: “The buyer is advised that the property was subject to storm damage during Storm Gerritt, which caused significant structural damage to the Property.
“There is no roof, there was damage to the front wall, the side gable wall and water ingress as a result of the damage and the property being left open to the elements for eight weeks following the storm.
“The buyer is advised that the plaster has been severely affected and there is damage to floorboards.
“The buyer is advised that there is scaffolding in place at the property. This is part to keep the property covered as the property comprises no roof but also to support the structure given the damage that was incurred as a result of the storm.
“The scaffolding will be removed as soon as practicable following completion and the buyer will need to arrange its own scaffolding to replace that which the seller will be removing.
“The buyer is deemed to purchase the property in full knowledge of the same and acceptance of this provision and the need to replace the scaffolding and shall raise no requisition thereon or objection thereto.”
According to legal documents, the energy rating for the property – which has paperwork dating back to 1886 – is D, even though it does not have a roof.
And Pugh Auctions, who conducted the sale, described it as ‘a superb development opportunity for a local builder/developer.’
They also confirmed the final sale price when contacted by The Correspondent.
It is thought the costs of replacing the roof and the substantial repairs may reach as much as £50,000.
However, it is believed they may still be more than covered if it is placed back up for sale.
For several properties in that part of Stalybridge have sold for more than £200,000.