A Victorian house located near the GCHQ headquarters and featuring one of the artist Banksy's well-known masterpieces is now available on the market for £210,000.
The property is a Grade II listed building in Cheltenham's English town. It became one of the most photographed homes in the UK after Banksy painted the "Spy Booth" on its exterior wall, according to RT.
The mural portrays three "spies" with listening devices enclosing an actual telephone box outside the house, which the publication noted is an obvious jab at the British spy agency GCHQ.
The painting, nicknamed "Spy Booth," appeared following the reports of a mass surveillance program by GCHQ and the U.S. National Security Agency by Edward Snowden, a former intelligence contractor.
The property is now listed on Peter Ball and Co.'s website. Estate agents described it as "a rare opportunity to acquire a Grade II listed, Victorian, three bedroom end terrace property with a genuine 'Banksy' on the gable wall." They also warn that the property will need "a comprehensive schedule of refurbishment."
Meanwhile, David Possee, its current owner, spoke publicly about the mural's impact on his life that started in March 2015. He told the community radio station, Swindon 105.5, that if the local authority wants to protect the artwork, they should buy the building from him. This is after a series of disputes with the local council.
Possee thought that the mural was "quite nice" when he first saw it. Yet apparently, the mural quickly became a headache.
"It all unraveled when this mural appeared on the side of the property," he said.
In a report from BBC, the mural is said to have been coated with white paint, sprayed with silver and red graffiti, and had people trying to snatch it. Even businesses and communities have also fought for its ownership.
The "unauthorized" work was given retrospective planning consent in February to protect it under the property's Grade II listed status. Since then, the council has served notice to Possee demanding him to fix the damage, "apparently" done in an "abortive attempt" to take it out by April this year. They also served a letter to repair painting on the wall with the name Banksy on it.
