How to buy a private island for the price of a London flat
Agents say enquiries from would-be island owners have tripled during Covid pandemic
The coronavirus lockdown has left many homeowners longing for a change of scenery - but some buyers are thinking bigger than others for their next move.
According to agents, demand for private islands is booming as increasing numbers of Britons seek solitude and safety during the pandemic. Farhad Vladi, founder of Vladi Private Islands, says that enquiries have tripled since Covid-19 hit compared with the same period in 2019.
And as The Telegraph notes, “you don't need to be a billionaire, or even a millionaire”, to get in on the action.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While “the private island market in Britain and Ireland is one of serious quirks”, says the newspaper, “islands in Scotland can be snapped up for a fraction of the price of a one-bedroom London flat”.
Cameron Ewer of Savills estate agents told The Telegraph that “there are some very, very small islands that people buy because they just want to say ‘I own an island’”.
Savills recently sold the 14-acre Creinch Island in Loch Lomond for just £90,000. But living on the island may prove tricky for the new owner. Creinch has no running water or electricity, although on the plus side, the island is “covered in wood anemones and wild garlic”, The Telegraph says.
There are also plenty of options for those looking to splash a little more cash. An island off the coast of Ireland was sold for more than $6.3m (£5m) earlier this month, “with the anonymous buyer not even visiting the location in person before going through with the purchase”, CNN reports.
Located to the southwest of the Irish mainland, Horse Island covers 157 acres that includes “three beaches, seven houses and natural wildlife”, the broadcaster adds.
The island haven proved so enticing that the unnamed European buyer “relied on video footage to view” the site, and conducted most of the negotiations via WhatsApp, says The Guardian.
“The owner fell in love with the scenery,” said Thomas Balashev, chief executive of Montague Real Estate, which helped broker the deal. “The island will be used as a tranquil retreat – a place to enjoy the natural beauty and calm the landscape affords.”
Some visionaries are thinking even bigger, however.
With land borders worldwide closed during the pandemic, shipbuilding giant Ferretti Group is producing “portable private islands”, Forbes says.
“Describing its superyachts as ‘private islands’ might seem far-fetched, but it makes a lot of sense,” according to the news site.
“The interior is essentially a luxury resort… while outside, sun decks supplement beaches and wherever you roam, you’re always by the sea.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joe Evans is the world news editor at TheWeek.co.uk. He joined the team in 2019 and held roles including deputy news editor and acting news editor before moving into his current position in early 2021. He is a regular panellist on The Week Unwrapped podcast, discussing politics and foreign affairs.
Before joining The Week, he worked as a freelance journalist covering the UK and Ireland for German newspapers and magazines. A series of features on Brexit and the Irish border got him nominated for the Hostwriter Prize in 2019. Prior to settling down in London, he lived and worked in Cambodia, where he ran communications for a non-governmental organisation and worked as a journalist covering Southeast Asia. He has a master’s degree in journalism from City, University of London, and before that studied English Literature at the University of Manchester.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
A not-so-quiet place: Why is no one using headphones in public anymore?
Under the Radar People are increasingly comfortable with both speakerphone and watching videos (very) out loud
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Gas masks and loo rolls: why 'preppers' are on the rise
Under The Radar Doomsday community has expanded from 'Rambo wannabes' to 'Tesco regulars'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Breathtaking: the Covid drama that may make you scream
The Week Recommends ITV three-parter is a 'tour de force' that exposes 'political complacency'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The lasting changes of the post-pandemic dining era
The Explainer The newest of new normals
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
House prices fall at fastest pace since 2009 – and more pain expected
Speed Read Gloomy forecasts follow 4.6% year-on-year drop as higher interest rates hit the property market
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
How revenge travel is impacting the aviation and tourism industries
Talking Point The surge in travel is a far cry from the previous pandemic years during which travel took a hit
By Devika Rao Published
-
Virgin Atlantic fined for violating Iraqi airspace
Speed Read Airline said the incursions were accidental and caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
By Mike Starling Published