Hidden reality of Omaze prize draws as expert issues warning to mansion's owner

Daily Mirror

28-05-2025

A lucky competition winner will get the keys to a stunning 17th century mansion in the Cotswolds, but one expert has issued a warning after making a similar move
An enchanting 17th-century Cotswolds home is up for grabs through an Omaze prize draw, presenting one lucky individual with the chance to own a breathtaking £5.5 million estate.
This spectacular windfall not only gifts the winner with this luxurious residence but also sweetens the deal by covering stamp duty and legal fees, topped off with cash for the property's upkeep. The grand abode boasts five bedrooms and bathrooms, dual lounges, an expansive kitchen-diner, boot room, two utility rooms, multipurpose spaces, and even comes with its very own separate guest house.
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Previous Omaze giveaways have included prizes such as a modern Cornish home perched on a cliff edge, an elegant Georgian townhouse nestled in London's city centre, and an impressive Highland mansion. Yet from the 38 property winners of Omaze's extravagant offerings, several have opted not to move into these dreamy prizes.
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Offering a cautionary tale, Daily Mail's Liz Jones shares her personal experience transitioning from the hustle of London to the seemingly peaceful life on a posh Somerset property spread across 55 acres.
She vividly describes her rural reality check which included having no heating due to an unanticipated empty oil tank and the necessity to invest in an exorbitant ride-on lawnmower for her groundskeeper just two days after moving in, reports Wales Online.. When confronting the gardener about the need for such an expensive tool, he cheekily responded: "Have you seen the size of your lawn?"
Ultimately, Liz decided to turn her front paddock into a wildflower meadow, as reported by Gloucestershire Live. Yet, this idyllic setting was disrupted when a neighbour's sheep invaded her land, leaving it looking "like Glastonbury" after an escapade with an open gate.
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Liz dreamt of transforming her annexe, resembling the Omaze Cotswolds giveaway home, into a "party barn". But her plans hit a snag upon learning from the local council that planning permission would come at the hefty price of £26,000 for a bat sanctuary.
Although she adored the orchard on her property, the quick demise of her harvested apples and pears to mould was less than ideal.
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The final straw came when her dog fatally attacked a sheep, prompting the farmer to insinuate that the canine might be "better off living in a London flat". Following the incident, a mortified Liz sold her countryside abode and sought tranquillity in Yorkshire.
Alas, the financial strains persisted, with expenses such as £150 for cleaning windows and a jaw-dropping £800 for energy bills.
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She ultimately decided to sell at a significant loss and moved into a rented place in the Yorkshire Dales. Reflecting on the sale, she wrote: "As I drove away, having sold it to be turned into a holiday let (I imagine Marbella is quieter), I was devastated my rural dream had ended. But, forced to rent, I was at least comforted by the fact that if the boiler broke, it wasn't down to me to fix it."
Liz concluded with a note of caution: "So, be careful what you wish for. Without deep pockets and a huge team of staff, you will find yourself living not in a mansion but a very expensive prison."
Winning an Omaze dream house turned out to be bittersweet for some lucky winners, as they faced unexpected challenges. Uttam Parmar from Leicestershire was overjoyed to win a beautiful house in Cornwall but realised the financial reality when he decided to put the property up for sale.
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He explained to the Daily Mail: "It is a fantastic house in a beautiful Cornish location but the price of it comes with a price to keep it and we can't afford to. We are selling it and not keeping it as a holiday home."
Parmar also shared his regret, stating, "If we could afford to keep it we would. It is beautiful. But we are looking to buy some land or a smaller property instead."
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June Smith, a grandmother, won a six-bedroom home in Fowey, Cornwall, and opted to sell after spending just three months there, according to WalesOnline. She found that the allure of the property's spectacular estuary views was lessened by local grumbles about regular car ferries.
June mentioned she decided to sell after one visit and "used the money to help all my children and grandchildren with the next chapter in their lives".
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An Omaze spokesperson clarified winner options, telling WalesOnline, "All Omaze winners are free to decide if they live in their new house, rent it out for a supplementary income or sell it whenever they wish, to become a cash multi-millionaire - the choice is entirely theirs.
"Omaze Grand Prize winners receive £250,000 in cash to maintain their new property and help them settle in. Estimated running costs for each house are available for entrants to view on the Omaze website. If they decide to keep the house, they could afford to comfortably stay for many years using just the £250,000 settling in money.
"As with all Omaze properties, there is no mortgage, stamp duty or legal fees to pay - and the properties come with all the furniture featured in the adverts. Omaze styles each property with well over a hundred thousand pounds worth of furnishings and essentials, so they are all ready for a winner to enjoy.
"Should winners wish to rent out their new property, they can achieve long-term rental values of thousands of pounds a month. Whatever their circumstances, all Omaze winners have several fantastic life-changing options available to them."