A derelict Victorian villa in Hackney, known as Mole Man house because a labyrinth of tunnels were dug underneath it, sold at auction to a private buyer for £1.12m – £370,000 over the guide price of £750,000.
The 20-room home at 121 Mortimer Road, Hackney, N1 sold through Auction House London’s sale at the Everyman Cinema at Belsize Park, NW3.
Former owner Willian Lyttle, who died in 2010, earned the nickname Mole Man when it emerged he had dug tunnels up to 60ft long under the property. Hackney Council evicted and rehoused Lyttle in 2006 over safety concerns.
The site has planning permission which allows for the home to be knocked down and two three-storey town houses with basements to be built.
Sean King of Move with Us, who marketed the home, says the decision to sell by auction with planning permission in place overcame the safety issues at the site.
“We believe that taking the house to auction was the best option in light of the fact it had restricted viewing access due to the structure being deemed unsafe. Putting it up for auction meant that it gained lots of interest which, coupled with its position as prime real estate in Hackney, has served to help it to achieve the maximum value possible for the beneficiaries of William Lyttle’s estate.”
Samantha.baden@estatesgazette.com
