THE CHATA OR HUT

The Buyer

The buyer had a tiny budget, which wouldn’t even remotely stretch to the cost of properties in the town centre, which at the time of her search started at £70,000. Her requirements were for somewhere to stay and relax and enjoy the town and also the countryside around Krumlov. 

The Search

She was very taken by the small cabins and huts which are seen in the countryside all over the Czech Republic. We suggested that one of these might be her best bet – provided she was prepared to rough it for a while. These huts were originally designed and built as allotments for the people who lived in the communist-type apartment blocks, to give them somewhere to relax, garden, and generally enjoy nature. The plot sizes are generous, often within walking distance of the centre, yet with nature at their doorstep. The huts themselves can be built of brick, wood or stone or combination and often designed with great ingenuity and character. They are small (usually up to 20m2 footprint) but can have a sleeping loft and cellar, and always a chimney so theoretically they can be used all-year round. The utilities – running water, toilets, electricity supply etc - tend to be minimal: basically the more you have, the dearer the hut is.

The Result

We were lucky and found a hut in an ideal spot: the last one in a small colony, right next to a large forest. The hut is brick built with 1,700m2 of sloping land, a brook running through the lower part of it, and five mature apple trees. The asking price was 210 000 kcs. There were no utilities in this part of the colony as yet – but we were prepared to lay a bet on electricity supply being brought here in the near future. This would mean that the plot could be re-classified as a building plot and she would be able to extend the hut or even build a house there.

Luckily we were right: the electricity supply is being brought in 2008 and the buyer now has a plot of land which is worth more than double what she paid for it. But she isn't even thinking of selling it: she loves it, has very much enjoyed working with her large garden, and is looking forward to extending the hut to include kitchen facilities and a washroom.