Imagine waking up one morning to find a world-famous piece of street art plastered right on the side of your house.
Sounds like a dream for art lovers, right? But for Gert and Gerry Coutts, this surprise from the elusive artist Banksy has turned into a costly and stressful ordeal — one that’s left their property value slashed by a whopping £400,000.
The Unexpected Arrival of Banksy’s Seagull
Back in August 2021, the couple, who own a house in Lowestoft but live up in Enfield, north London, were renting the Suffolk property out.
Their tenants called them to say scaffolding had mysteriously appeared on the house.
Gert and Gerry assumed it was some routine council work to fix the chimney.
But the scaffolding vanished the very next day, and in its place was a huge, 14-foot mural of a seagull — unmistakably Banksy’s style.
Next to the mural was a skip filled with insulation, cleverly arranged to look like a tray of chips, completing the quirky seaside scene.
From Excitement to Frustration
At first, the Coutts thought they had hit the jackpot.
The artwork drew crowds from all over the world, turning their rented property into an impromptu tourist hotspot with hundreds visiting daily.
But what started as excitement soon spiraled into a nightmare.
Gert, feeling completely overwhelmed, told The Sun, “I’m depressed and sick about it.
We’ve tried to handle everything properly, but it feels like we’ve been taken for a ride.”
He didn’t hold back, calling Banksy “an a**ehole” who clearly didn’t care about the consequences of his surprise gift.
The Chaos Around the House
The attention brought more than just visitors. Queues formed around the property, and on one occasion, someone even stole the scaffolding from a nearby skip, trying to sell it on Facebook for £1,600.
The couple’s co-owner, Rod, also slammed Banksy, calling him “uncaring” and “unthinking,” blaming the artist for the huge negative impact on their lives.
The High Cost of Preserving Banksy’s Art
Originally, the artwork was valued at up to £3 million, which seemed like a great investment.
However, the local council wanted to place a preservation order on the piece, meaning the Coutts would be responsible for annual maintenance costs estimated at £40,000.
Faced with this hefty financial burden, the couple decided to remove the entire wall with the mural.
This costly operation — around £200,000 — was done overnight, with council approval to close the road.
But their expenses didn’t stop there. They now pay £3,000 every month to store the artwork while hunting for a buyer.
Community Backlash and Personal Struggles
Removing the mural didn’t sit well with many locals. Passersby accused the owners of “stealing” a piece of public art, sparking a fierce debate in the town.
Gert reflected on how the initial excitement turned into stress, explaining, “If we could turn back the clock, we would.”
He revealed more troubles too — they had to hire a night watchman to protect the mural after parts were stolen, and vandals tried to paint over it with white paint.
The Value of Banksy’s Seagull
Art experts like Lowestoft dealer John Brandler have valued the piece between £1 million and £3 million, a staggering figure that highlights the complex relationship between street art, ownership, and responsibility.