'I visited seaside town with 'cheapest houses in UK' with some starting at £5k'

A social media user visited a seaside town in the UK to see the streets where you can find some houses for as little as £5k. A YouTuber, 'The Wandering Turnip' travelled to Horden, located in County Durham, which has been known for its coal mining industry.

The town is particularly the Horden Colliery, which opened in 1900 and became one of the largest in the country before closing in 1987. It grew rapidly during the mining boom, with housing and infrastructure built to support the workforce. At present, Horden is undergoing regeneration efforts to revitalize the area following the decline of mining. It offers coastal views, access to nature walks like the Durham Heritage Coast, and a strong sense of community rooted in its industrial past.

During the 27-minute video, the YouTuber talks a walk down the "numbered streets" that feature boarded up houses, smashed windows, and rubbish both in the properties and in the back yards.

Some properties in Horden are available at auction for surprisingly low prices, starting from just £5,000 and typically selling for around £20,000. However, there's a catch-buyers are often not allowed to view the homes before placing their bids, which adds a layer of uncertainty and risk to the process, reports Mirror Online.

During his trip to Horden, content creator The Wandering Turnip viewed two properties-one listed at £39,950 and another going to auction for £15,000. Both homes were in poor condition, showing signs of neglect and vandalism, with broken glass, missing radiators, exposed wiring, and damaged floorboards.

As he explored the area, he estimated seeing around 70 abandoned and boarded-up houses, particularly concentrated in the numbered streets at the town's centre. Seventh Street, in particular, stood out as almost entirely derelict.

Writing on Youtube, he said of the visit: "I was really interested to figure out why they were so cheap and to take a look at the area. Horden is an ex mining town, and when the colliery shut down in 1987, all the work and the reason for people being there disappeared. You can imagine how busy this place would have been when that mine was open. It operated from 1900 - 1987.

"There were entire streets that were boarded up and I managed to get a look in 2 different properties which were on sale at the time of visiting.

"It seems that the town suffers from a severe vandalism problem, making it hard for properties to be done up, leaving the towns looking like they do. The answer, a lovely chap showing me round one house told me, is that it has to be local landlords or people who can respond quickly. When these houses end up in the hands of outside investors, without a care for the area, they quickly fall into this cycle of damage, try to sell, repeat and repeat."

He continued: "The people up here are absolutely great, such a friendly welcoming town where everyone was up for a chat. It is a real shame to see so many streets boarded up especially in a town so close to the sea, which I go look at in the end."

Michael Kelleher, head of planning and housing at Durham County Council, told theMirror: "After extensive consultation, we have submitted a planning application to demolish properties on Third and Fifth Streets and replace them with modern, energy efficient and affordable housing, including bungalows.

"If approved, the plans are a big step toward the regeneration of the village and tackling the high numbers of empty properties in the area as part of the Horden Masterplan. The plan aims to support those with housing needs, enhance community facilities and pave the way for homes that are truly affordable. All while respecting the history and heritage of Horden.

"Meanwhile, other initiatives are also addressing the issue of long-term vacant properties, such as Selective Licensing, Horden Together, and the ongoing work of our Empty Homes team. For owners and landlords, we are working closely with them to negotiate the purchase of their properties and help people to find alternative accommodation should they need it."