A house with a 25ft shark plunging into its roof has been listed for rent just days after it was announced the owner had lost their appeal to let out the home on Airbnb.
The quirky Oxford home has featured the huge sea mammal, made out of fibreglass, since 1986 when journalist Bill Heine installed it.
His son, Dr Magnus Hanson-Heine, has made headlines after appealing Oxford City Council’s decision that it should not be used for short-term lets on sites like Airbnb.
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Last week, it was announced that the appeal was lost after a planning inspector sided with the local authority.
Just a few days after the decision, he has listed the home for rent at £6,000 a month on OpenRent, available from 5 March 2025.
The eye-grabbing home comes furnished, and with bills included, and features four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The terrace property comes fitted with a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, Sky TV and WiFi, as well as a walled garden and off-street parking.
The house can sleep eight tenants, with a minimum tenancy of three months.
Included in the listing, Dr Hanson-Heine said: “The Shark House stands as a testament to creativity, freedom, and the voice against conformity.
“Erected by my late father, Bill Heine, and sculptor John Buckley, it sparked a national debate on public art and personal expression.
“Today, it invites you to ponder its deeper meanings or simply enjoy its whimsical defiance.”
The listing, featured on Luxury Property News, continues: “Nestled in the heart of Headington, Oxford, The Headington Shark House isn’t just accommodation; it’s a dive into a piece of living art history.
“Featuring the awe-inspiring ‘Untitled 1986’ – a 25ft fiberglass and steel shark sculpture that spectacularly ‘crashes’ through the roof, this Victorian marvel offers a one-of-a-kind stay.
“Experience the comfort of modern living while enveloped in a story that has captivated the world.”
Dr Hanson-Heine told local press that he had been given a notice to stop short-term lets in July 2023, having rented the home out for several years.
But the planning inspector reportedly found it wasn’t appropriate for short-term lets, as per the council’s planning rules – including that those lets should only be allowed in the city centre, in allocated sites or on main roads with frequent public transport to the city centre.
