Phoebe Irving, a 26-year-old photographer, purchased a four-bedroom flat in Liverpool for £105,000, according to multiple reports. After moving in, she discovered a hidden room inside the flat that is almost the size of three double bedrooms. The room was not included in the floor plan and was not found by surveyors, reports said.
According to Metro - Main, Irving described that during her first viewing, a room was locked and the estate agent said it was just for storage. She asked for the keys at a subsequent viewing, but the agent forgot. Irving assumed, given the flat's price, that the room would be insignificant. When she finally opened the door, she was shocked to find a huge room, which she described as "basically a whole other flat." The estate agent's misleading information led her to believe the locked space was merely storage.
Irving purchased the property as a solo buyer in April 2026, according to major media reports. She saved for two years using a Lifetime ISA and put down a £10,000 deposit. The flat, bought for £105,000, is now being renovated with a budget of £5,000, reports said. Irving is considering turning the hidden room into a cinema room or dressing room, according to multiple reports. She told Metro - Main that she is overwhelmed by the extra space and concerned about her budget, as she does not have enough funds to renovate the rest of the flat, let alone the hidden room. The room has been empty for a while and requires significant work, she added.
Several unknowns remain about the hidden room. Its exact size in square feet or meters has not been disclosed. It is unclear why the room was omitted from the floor plan or missed by surveyors. The previous use of the room is also unknown. Additionally, it is not known whether Irving will need to pay additional property taxes or insurance due to the increased square footage.