The National Trust is renting a parking space at one of its stately homes for £600 a month to help pay for its conservation.
This pricey spot at the heritage conservation charity’s Fenton House in the heart of Hampstead, north London, would set you back £7,200 a year.
The 17th century home is a former merchant’s house and was bequeathed to the trust in 1952 by Lady Binning, its last owner and resident.
After the rental listing was advertised on the property search site Rightmove, one person joked on social media: ‘Seems like a bargain – until you realise it’s for a parking space.’
The National Trust has since said in response that the fees ‘support our vital conservation work’ and help us protect ‘this special place for generations to come’.
Pictured: Fenton House, which was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1952 by Lady Binning, its last owner and resident
The rental listing caused quite the shock amongst the public after it was advertised on the property search site Rightmove
Fenton House features a sunken garden, an orchard and a kitchen garden, as well as a number of available parking spaces.
A description on Rightmove reads: ‘LONG LET. Parking Space to rent. This parking space is located in the grounds of Fenton House, a National Trust site in the heart of Hampstead.
‘Conveniently located a short walk from Hampstead High Street with the Underground station also close by.’
Another listing on the same site adds: ‘4 x Secured Parking Spaces available to let, individually or a group agreement.
‘Situated within Fenton House, the location is within walking distance of the high street and Hampstead Tube Station.
‘The spaces are priced at £600 per calendar month, per space. The location would suit perfectly for a neighbouring business with parking needs for staff or local residents in need of safe & secure parking.’
The last properties to sell on the same road were a three bed flat for £1.55million, a terraced home for £1.9million and an eight bed mansion for £5.3million.
A description on Rightmove reads: ‘LONG LET. Parking Space to rent. This parking space is located in the grounds of Fenton House, a National Trust site in the heart of Hampstead’
The heritage conservation charity says the money from the parking spot helps ‘support our vital conservation work’
Discussing the cost of the parking space on a Reddit thread, some said it was more than they paid in rent for their house for a month.
One joked: ‘For the price of a three bed home in the North, you can park in front of this beautiful property. You may not come inside.’
Another said: ‘Last year I saw a parking space for sale in London for £270k, 10k more than the price I paid for my 4 bed house in Yorkshire.’
However, with parking at an all time premium in London, this spot could actually be viewed as a bargain as some spaces have reportedly sold for as much as £350,000 a year.
One person said: ‘My friend pays 12k a year for a London car parking space…’
Another said: ‘Seems like a great way for the museum to bring in extra income.’
A third also added: ‘I used to work there. It’s a small National Trust site with a staff car park – unsurprisingly most staff don’t drive in so it’s a good way for NT to generate income.
‘Unlike most parking space charges, at least this one benefits a charity as income made will go back into the budget to help care for Fenton House (well worth a visit along with 2 Willow Road if you are in the area)!’
The National Trust said: ‘We let out four of the parking spaces at Fenton House.
‘As well as supporting the on-going costs of running the house, the fees also support our vital conservation work, with every penny helping us to protect and maintain this special place for generations to come.’
