Former Cannabis Factory in Blackburn Sells for Bargain £65,000 at Auction
A mid-terraced house in Blackburn, Lancashire, has been sold for a bargain price of £65,000 due to its previous use as a cannabis factory. The four-bedroom property, located on Bank Lane, may appear unassuming from the exterior, but the interior reveals extensive damage from its illicit past.
Severe Internal Damage and Neglect
The lounge area is in complete disarray, featuring a hole in the ceiling and clothes scattered atop bin bags. In the kitchen, drawers are missing, with pots and plates thrown on the floor and worktops left in a messy state. The wallpaper is peeling, cupboards bear smoke stains, and boxes and clothes are stacked across the floor.
The bathroom shows similar neglect, with peeling wallpaper, missing tiles, and visible mould around the bath. One bedroom is filled with masonry, while another has a large ventilation shaft in the ceiling, along with fans and plant pots on the ground. A blue FlexiTank water storage unit sits in the corner, with cables and plastic covering the walls.
Auction Sale and Local Market Comparison
Listed with a guide price of just £20,000 by McHugh and Co auctioneers, the property sold for £45,000 more when it went under the hammer. Despite this increase, the sale price of £65,000 is significantly below the average house price in Blackburn, which stands at £150,000—almost two-and-a-half times higher.
The auction listing did not mention the house's former use as a cannabis factory, instead describing it as requiring some 'modernisation'. It highlighted the property's location near Shadsworth Road, close to Blackburn Town Centre amenities, Blackburn Train Station, and Queen's Park.
External Condition and Expert Insight
To the rear of the property is a small, overgrown backyard with crumbling walls, weeds, and moss covering the ground. The back of the house is covered in black stains, adding to the overall state of disrepair.
YouTube David Burnip, who visited the home, identified it as a 'grow-house completely modified to grow cannabis'. He noted that while the £65,000 sale price might seem low for a terraced house, it reflects the property's compromised condition and history.
