A first-time buyer in Liverpool was left astonished after discovering that a locked door in her new flat concealed a vast room, almost doubling the size of her property.
Unexpected Discovery
Phoebe Irving, a 26-year-old photographer, purchased a four-bedroom flat for £105,000. During viewings, she noticed a locked door in the hallway, but estate agents dismissed it as "just storage." She assumed it was a small cupboard.
However, on moving day, she opened the door to find an enormous space equivalent to three double bedrooms. The hidden room nearly doubled the flat's overall size.
Plans for the Extra Space
Phoebe plans to transform the additional room into either a cinema room or a dressing room. She said: "My flat is four bedrooms, which is already a ridiculous size for just me. When I went for my first viewing, there was a room that was locked. The estate agent said it was just for storage. I asked if they could bring the keys to my next viewing, but they forgot. I assumed due to the price of the flat, it wouldn't be anything."
She added: "On the day I moved in, I opened the door and there was a huge room inside it. I was so shocked, it was a lot bigger than a cupboard. It's basically like a whole other flat. I was so overwhelmed, as I now have double the amount of space, and I don't even have the budget to do up the rest of the flat, never mind this!"
Purchase and Renovation
Phoebe bought the property as a sole buyer in April 2026 after saving for two years using a Lifetime ISA. She secured the purchase with a £10,000 deposit. The flat had been empty for a while and requires significant renovation, including a new bathroom, with a budget of £5,000.
During a survey, surveyors did not access the locked room, which was also missing from the floor plan. Phoebe described the space as "not even a room, it's basically a whole floor."
