Three cottages in picturesque South Wales village selling for as little as $1...but there's a catch

A buyer could secure a three-for-one deal for a cheap-as-chips figure.

Three cottages in the idyllic village of Machen in south Wales are going to auction with a £0 reserve. This means that by law they must be sold to the highest bidder, even if that is as little as £1 ($AU1.91).

However, there’s a catch. The properties are dilapidated and completely uninhabitable with no power or water.

Gemma Vaughan of Paul Fosh Auctions is handling the campaign with online bidding set to commence from May 14 to May 16.

The Wesley Buildings at Wesley Hill in Machen are described on the listing as a renovation project.

Machen is an idyllic village, 4km east of Caerphilly in south Wales. The properties are in an ideal location on the Rhymney River and look out over Machen Mountain.

The location is by far the standout feature of the listing, with the cottages in a complete state of disrepair.

Once spread over three floors, the cottages are now “dilapidated” with no power or water.

Listing photos reveal significant overgrown weeds, boarded-up windows, walls that are starting to crack and gloomy interiors.

The buyer would need planning permission, should they wish to transform the properties into a dream new build.