Canterbury City Council is aware of multiple incidents of fraudulent selling of beach huts and has urged both buyers and owners to remain vigilant. The council's foreshore team can provide advice on whether a hut sale is genuine if contacted, and it advises prospective buyers to only purchase huts through agents or beach hut associations. The main victim in scams of this type will always be the unsuspecting purchaser.
Beach huts in Tankerton have been sold for nearly £60,000 by genuine estate agents, while those in Herne Bay and Whitstable are being sold for between £27,000 and £52,000. The warning has been echoed by beach hut groups, with concerns that buyers are already being caught out. At the moment, the fraud appears to be related to huts in Tankerton locally.
Scammers' tactics include breaking into huts and inviting property seekers for viewings while offering excuses for why they could not attend in person.