Historic Victorian cottage in south Leeds to be auctioned off by the council

A historic cottage in south Leeds is set to be sold by the council and the proceeds split with a charity.

Leeds City Council has decided to auction the property at 228 Town Street on the edge of Middleton Park.

The derelict former council house was deemed surplus to requirements and will be bought by the council from Wade’s Charity before being put on the market.

The council has been leasing the whole of Middleton Park from the charity, which provides community grants, since 1920.

A council report said: “The house is in a poor state of repair. Once improved it should enhance the local neighbourhood and provide much needed housing.

“Home ownership is known to contribute to health and well-being.”

An obligation would be placed on the new owner to refurbish the house within 12 months, the report said.

It said: “In the event of failure to refurbish, the council will have the option to repurchase at either the original sale price or market value, whichever is the lower at the time of repurchase.”

The report said the cottage was the end house on a row of listed houses.

The sale would raise cash and relieve the local authority of future maintenance costs.

The report said: “It is a Victorian cottage in need of complete refurbishment, with front and rear gardens.

“The sale will include land to the side which could accommodate an extension to the house, subject to planning.”

Auction was deemed the best way of selling the property. The report said: “Disposal by auction is likely to produce the highest receipt as opposed to a disposal by any other method.

“The proposal represents good estate management by maximising income generation and removing holding costs.”

The cottage was set to be auctioned within the current financial year, the council said. A reserve price was yet to be decided.