Couple who couldn't afford deposit win dream £4.5m home
Couple who couldn't afford deposit win dream £4.5m home
Roger Cana, 37, who is expecting his first child with wife Shalini in September, was living in a rented home while trying to save for a deposit to buy a property
Roger Cana and his wife Shalini
(Image: SWNS )
A soon-to-be dad has scooped up a dream £4.5m Georgian townhouse in London, once dubbed the most expensive council house in Britain, for a mere £35.
Roger Cana, 37, landed the impressive property as part of the Omaze Million Pound House Draw. Roger, who works in a hospital and claims he's "never won anything", was residing in a rented home while saving for a deposit to buy a house. He is now the proud owner of the five-storey, four-bedroom house tucked away in the capital, boasting panoramic views of The Shard from its award-winning garden.
Roger's townhouse comes entirely mortgage-free with all stamp duty and legal fees covered. The fortunate winner also pocketed a £250,000 cash prize to help him and his wife Shalini settle into their new home. Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here .
This gives them the flexibility to either leave their current rented studio in Hayes, west London, to live in the townhouse, rent it out, or even sell it and become millionaires, reports the Manchester Evening News.
If they opt to reside in the house Omaze estimates that the quarter-million-pound cash bonus would cover the property's maintenance for nearly 10 years.
The couple, married for three years, will also find the house ready with £150,000 worth of furnishings when they collect the keys. Should the property's new owners decide to let it out local estate agents estimate it could command a long-term rental value of between £8,000 and £10,000 per month.
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Roger, who snagged the winning ticket for a mere £35, is over the moon as he and his wife await the birth of their first child, a son, due this September.
Inside the property
(Image: SWNS )
One of four bedrooms
(Image: SWNS )
The lucky couple, previously struggling to scrape together a deposit for a house, can now embrace a future without a mortgage bringing up their boy in a luxurious London home situated in one of the city's most sought-after neighbourhoods.
"I've always considered myself quite unlucky, as I've never won anything before this, but I guess I can't say that anymore," Roger said. "It was just another Friday really. I'd been working hard all day then I got an email from Omaze saying I'd won something.
"The next thing I knew they turned up and told us we'd won a £4.5m home in London. We couldn't believe it. My legs were shaking and my knees went wobbly. We were in total shock."
Roger continued: "We had a bottle of champagne in the house so we popped that open and got cooking. We always celebrate good times with good food. Then we called our families. At first they all thought we were joking. Then they went from disbelief to being so, so happy for us."
Brimming with excitement about their new abode, which they plan to make their home, Roger said: "The house is amazing. I got butterflies as soon as I saw it.
"The furnishings are beautiful, which is great for us as we don't have much of our own because we live in a studio flat. We could probably move here with all our belongings just packed into an Uber v maybe we'd get an Exec now though.
"Getting married and finding out we were pregnant were very special days, but this is right up there too and it's definitely the best baby present ever. We'll raise our son in one of the nicest areas in London. It's just unbelievable."
The expectant father added: "We're normally used to seeing the neighbour's laundry from our back garden but now we've got views of The Shard. I'd seen The Shard on TV but now I can see it while I'm watching TV. It's crazy."
Roger, who relocated from Goa in India to the UK eight years ago, said: "I've lived and worked in London since I arrived here and the goal was to one day own a property here but we never dreamed our first house would be worth £4.5m.
"I work in hospitality but now someone else can bring me the champagne for a change. We've been trying to save enough for a deposit so we can get a mortgage but now we'll never even need a mortgage. Turns out all we needed was £35 and a big slice of luck."
Speaking about his family Roger said: "My wife is an accountant but you don't have to be good with numbers to work out £35 into £4.5m is a pretty good return.
"This has changed our lives forever. Our baby's future is now more secure than we could have ever imagined. It's the best feeling in the world. Even our baby's babies will be sorted. Our family has never been over to see us but now they can come and stay in style. No sofa beds or three-star hotels for them."
Their distinctive four-bedroom townhouse, located in a sought-after postcode just a stone's throw from popular London hotspots like Borough Market, the Tate Modern, and the South Bank, exudes its own unique charm.
The property boasts two entrances that lead to a Bisazza-tiled ground floor featuring a handcrafted bespoke kitchen fitted with top-of-the-range appliances such as a Rangemaster cooker, integrated fridge-freezer, and an instant boiling water tap.
The interior artfully blends original period features with contemporary design elements including a steel-framed sun room extension that provides views of the beautiful garden.
The house also offers a formal dining room with sculptural lighting and open doorways along with original sash windows that bathe the rooms in morning sunlight and a warm golden glow in the evening.
On the first floor you'll find a traditional Georgian reception room as well as another family lounge. The property houses three bedrooms on the upper floors, each offering breathtaking views of London's skyline, while a fourth bedroom is situated on the lower floor.
The master bedroom comes complete with a fireplace and an innovatively-designed bathroom featuring a rainfall shower. Another bedroom includes a play space mezzanine and a guest bedroom comes equipped with a stylish en suite bathroom.
The property also boasts a separate studio space perfect for a home office. The award-winning garden, designed by Chelsea Flower Show Gold winners, features extensive planting, wooden bench seating, a leafy canopy, and a fragrant herb garden.
Adding to the evening atmosphere is a fire pit that doubles as a barbecue and subtle accent lighting. With a view of The Shard in the background this property truly feels like an urban oasis.
The Omaze Million Pound House Draw, London, not only made Roger a multimillionaire but also raised £4.1m for The King's Trust – a charity committed to helping young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing significant adversity.
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