EXCLUSIVE The Omaze curse? Inside the tales of the luxury home winners who have put their mansions on the market... and some for very tragic reasons

Daily Mail​

7 hours ago

The youngest ever person to scoop a luxury Omaze mansion has become the latest in a long line of winners of the property draw to decide to sell her prize.
Lauren Keene, 24, had considered moving into her six-bedroom Hollywood-style home with her partner Ryan Mitchell after she won it last December, along with £250,000.
But the full time nanny has now followed in the footsteps of the vast majority of winners by cashing in on the house in the Wirral, Merseyside, and putting it on the market for £2.5million, a discount of £500,000 on the original £3million valuation.
Her father Daniel Keene revealed that the couple had spent only a few nights at the spectacular house due to them living and working almost 200 miles away in Gloucester.
Like many other winners of Omaze's Grand Designs-style homes, Lauren is also said to have been put off by the expensive running costs of her new dream home.
Instead she and her Ryan, a software engineer, are buying themselves a much smaller and more practical semi-detached home in Gloucester.
MailOnline can now reveal that all, but a handful of the 39 winners of Omaze home draws in the UK, have sold or are planning to sell their multi-million pound prizes.
Many have decided their new homes are too lavish or costly to maintain, as well as often being hundreds of miles away from family, friends and familiar surroundings
Other winners have had to deal with planning consent issues or problems such as their homes being overlooked, which have not been revealed in the glossy pictures advertising Omaze draws that have raised £85million for charities in the UK since 2020.
MailOnline can reveal a growing list of those who have given up keys to their prize homes in recent years in order to swap them for huge cash sums.
The luxury home in the Scottish highlands
Widowed grandmother Patricia Moule, 81, scooped a £4million contemporary four bedroom home on the shores of Loch Rannoch, Perthshire, and £250,000 in cash in April this year after buying an Omaze draw ticket for £25.
But the former personnel manager from Southampton revealed when she was named as the winner that she planned to sell the house, describing it as offering her family 'a generational legacy' that would secure their future.
The spectacular house offers spectacular views of the surrounding Scottish Highlands, including the Black Woods of Rannoch and the Southern Rannoch mountains, as well as its very own all-weather tennis court.
But she revealed that she planned to enjoy the house for a family holiday with her daughter Sarah, 57, and granddaughter Louisa, 18, before putting it on the market.
But the former personnel manager from Southampton revealed when she was named as the winner that she planned to sell the house, describing it as offering her family 'a generational legacy' that would secure their future
Patricia said: 'It's breathtaking up here, it's like something from a film, come to think of it I must watch Braveheart now I own a home in Scotland!
'The house is enormous, it might take me a week to look around the place, I think I'll need a map! I can't believe I've got a loch at the end of my garden, it's just incredible.
'The scenery is spectacular, I've never seen anything so beautiful in all my life.
'I've been to Scotland before, as my late husband David was a golf fanatic, so we came up to play here.
'I know he'll be smiling down on us now, he'd have absolutely loved this place and everything that it will do for us.
'I gave him a kidney back in 2012, it meant I got to spend seven more years with my best friend. I wish he was still here to share this with me, but I know he'd be beyond happy for all of us.
'Thanks to the £250,000 I also got as part of my win, I could afford to stay here for years if I wanted to, but I will sell it as the huge amount of money from the sale is so transformational for the family, it's a generational legacy that means their future is now secure.
'We'll definitely come up for a big family holiday before we sell it though, and one of us may take a dip in the loch!
'My granddaughter loves painting and you can't get much more picturesque than this place, she'll be getting her easel up here in no time.'
The stunning home in Exmouth, Devon
Grandfather Tom Steenson, 63, won an amazing £2million four bedroom home including a gym, cinema and swimming pool along with £250,000 in cash in November last year.
But less than two months later, it was revealed that he had put the property in Exmouth, Devon, on the market for £2.35million which is £350,000 more than the £2million valuation when he won it.
Tom who was living with his wife Carole, 58, in a two bedroom house in Maidstone, Kent, more than 120 miles away from Exmouth, revealed as he was handed his prize that he had no plans to quit his job in the motor industry.
Describing his good fortune, he said: 'This win means we'll never have to worry about money ever again - it's a dream come true.
'I could retire early, but my boss doesn't have to worry as I'll keep working for a while yet, I like to stay busy.'
He added: 'We'll definitely enjoy the house for a bit, but we'll most likely sell it, maybe next year, as the money we'll get is life-changing for the entire family.
'Thanks to £250,000 we've pocketed as part of the win, we could afford to stay here for ten years if we wanted to.
'Selling and banking the cash would enable us to help all our children and grandchildren; it's a generational legacy for our family.
'We could help our kids get on the property ladder now. It's all very exciting!'
It was revealed in January that Tom had seemingly brought forward his plans to sell the house by listing it for sale with estate agents Knight Frank.
The description of the house states: 'The Hideout is a stunning modern detached home that offers circa than 4,200 square feet of immaculate luxury accommodation with plenty of natural light throughout, and magnificent views across the surrounding countryside.'
It adds: 'Nestled in the picturesque coastal town of Exmouth, this contemporary masterpiece showcases luxury and functionality at its finest.
'The main residence features sleek architectural lines, large windows, and an open-concept design that seamlessly merges indoor and outdoor living.'
The three-tiered home near Poole, Dorset
Chris Milnes, 60, spent last Christmas with his family in a dream new-build house which he won in an Omaze draw last year.
But it was revealed in January this year that he was putting the three-tiered home near Poole, Dorset, on the market for £2.3million so he could spend more time with his new grandchild in Australia.
Chris and his wife Jules, 56, of Pudsey, West Yorks, said he hoped the sale would make him a multi-millionaire and give his children 'the start in life I never had'.
He also admitted that he had found out after his win that his first grandchild was due to arrive Down Under, and he wanted to be able to visit them.
Chris said: 'Winning a multi-million-pound house still feels like a dream, it takes a while for something of that magnitude to sink in.
'Since winning, we've really enjoyed spending time as a family at the house particularly at Christmas. Dorset is such a lovely part of country, and the house is a dream home on every level.
'The money we also got as part of my big win means if we wanted to, we could stay here for years and never have to worry about any costs - but we love where we live now, so have decided to sell up and bank the cash.
'Selling means we can find our forever home where we currently live, and still have enough money left to retire on as well as give our kids the boost they all deserve, so the entire family has gained from this, not just me.
'Since the win I've learned that I will become a grandad next year, but my son lives in Australia, so this also means we have the time and money to go spend time with our first grandchild which is absolutely wonderful.
'Entering Omaze is the best decision we ever made - if it can happen to me, it really can happen to anyone!'
The opulent bungalow near Farnham, Surrey
Scottish mother-of-three Rachael Reid, 54, spent several months staying with her husband Darren, 56, in the luxury bungalow which she won in an Omaze draw in July last year.
But the couple who have been married for 30 years decided to sell the stunning building which boasts a 40ft heated indoor pool, a gym and sauna near Farnham, Surrey, so they could move back to Scotland and be closer to friends and family.
It was revealed in December that their prize home was on the market for £2.95million.
The stunning property came mortgage free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered
Mrs Reid, a childcare worker, told how the money from the sale would 'change everything for the entire family'.
She said: 'I still can't believe it really happened to us - winning a multi-million pound house in Surrey has changed our lives forever.
'We've really enjoyed spending time at the house - it's been magical and the whole family has loved it. All the locals have been lovely and welcoming - it's a fantastic area.'
She added: 'The money I also got as part of my big win means if we wanted to, we could stay here for years and never have to worry about any costs - but we love where we live now, so we've decided to sell up and cash in so we can buy an amazing house a bit closer to all our family and friends in Scotland.
'The money from the sale will change everything for the entire family, it's just incredible.'
The Cornwall house
June Smith, 74, won an amazing £4.5million six bedroom Omaze home overlooking the estuary in Fowey, Cornwall, and named Pieds Dans L Eau, in February 2023
The widowed mother-of-three and grandmother from Essex, was initially overjoyed and thanked her late husband Ron who 'made it happen'.
But the open-plan home with floor to ceiling windows, a yoga studio and private jetty, ultimately failed to live up to her hopes.
June said that it felt far too big after she and her daughter were left rattling around it following one glorious summer holiday with all her extended family.
Describing her decision to sell up, she said: 'Winning this house has been an incredible experience, I still can't believe it all actually happened to me, it still feels so surreal.
'I wanted to enjoy at least one family holiday here before I put it on the market. We all came and stayed together and absolutely love the house and Cornwall - and my six grandchildren have certainly made the most of it.'
Locals also jealously compared the house to being 'like a goldfish bowl' with passengers on nearby passing ferries being able to peer in through bedroom windows.
A diner at a nearby café, joked: 'I hope whoever buys that place has enough money left over for a set of curtains.'
After selling her prize for £4,350,000, June reportedly paid off her three children's mortgages, but didn't bother upgrading her old Nissan Micra.
She instead bought a £750,000 bungalow in the Fowey area which she and her daughter moved into.
The Lake District farmhouse
Charity worker Grant Carson, 58, from Glasgow described himself as 'one of the luckiest men in Scotland' after winning a five-bedroom, 18th-century farmhouse in an Omaze draw in January 2023.
Grant who was diagnosed with arthritis as a child won his dream home after buying 850 entries for the draw for £100 just a month after giving up his disability charity job of 27 years to become a freelance consultant.
But it appears he changed his mind, and it was revealed in July 2023 that he had put the house on the market for £2.75million
At the time of his win, he talked of moving to the house set in eight acres of land and a short drive from Lake Windermere, and also possibly buying a dog.
But it appears he changed his mind, and it was revealed in July 2023 that he had put the house on the market for £2.75million.
And, in January last year, the house was put 'under offer' after the price was reduced to £2.35million, according to reports.
Describing his delight when he scooped his prize, Grant said: 'It's a truly life-changing win for me.'
The Gleneagles mansion
An Omaze winner named only as Jon from Berkshire won a mansion overlooking Gleneagles golf course in 2023 – but sold it six months later to a businessman from the south of England for £4,210,000.
The awesome seven bedroom property near Auchterarder, Perthshire, which features an entertainment room, leisure suite, cinema room, hot tub, guest annexe and golf simulator was the first property from Scotland to be entered into an Omaze draw.
Jon, a regular entrant to Omaze's charity raffles, described winning it as 'a dream come true'.
The awesome seven bedroom property near Auchterarder, Perthshire, which features an entertainment room, leisure suite, cinema room, hot tub, guest annexe and golf simulator was the first property from Scotland to be entered into an Omaze draw
But he decided to put it on the market with sales particulars describing it as a 'luxurious contemporary home with guest apartment in one of Scotland's most exclusive addresses'.
The Chelsea townhouse
Mature student Oceanne Belle, 49, won a three bedroom Chelsea townhouse with three bathrooms and worth an estimated £5million in an Omaze draw in December, 2023.
She and her partner Didine initially moved into the Grade II listed house in one of London's most fashionable neighbourhoods.
Oceanne briefly enjoyed 'waking up in luxury' in her luxurious prize home after previously being forced out of her flat in Barking, East London, by a rent increase and spending weeks sofa-surfing with friends.
But she ultimately decided to follow previous winners by deciding to sell up to secure her financial future and help her achieve her dream of becoming a paediatric nurse.
Oceanne who is originally from the Seychelles said she 'enjoyed every second' of her lavish Chelsea lifestyle while living in the house
But she told MailOnline: 'We decided to cash in and move a bit closer to our friends and family - and also release the huge amount of money from the sale so we can help our loved ones and enjoy the rest our lives worry free'.
Oceanne was studying at the University of Sunderland in London when she won the Georgian townhouse close to the King's Road in the exclusive borough.
The Omaze draw that she won was the third that she had entered and also raised £2.6m for NHS charities.
The Devon cottage
Father-of-two Simon Williams hosted family get-togethers for Christmas and Easter in the stunning five-bedroom property in Devon which he won in an Omaze draw in October, 2023.
But it was revealed last October that he had sold the £2million property after just six months of ownership, and used the cash to buy a dream home in Sussex where he previously lived.
He joked that he had sold the property to a friend so is still 'allowed to see it on the weekends'.
The main house has five bedrooms - the master boasts built-in storage, a panelled rear wall, four large windows overlooking the gardens below and a spacious en suite shower room. The other four double bedrooms provide plenty of space for family and friends
Reflecting on his life-changing Omaze experience, Simon recounted how winning the house was a 'very close second' to the best days of his life when his children were born.
Describing the excitement of his win, he told MailOnline: 'I can still remember my rollercoaster of emotions on the day I found out'… I was laughing, crying, staring into the abyss - it was so surreal.
'Believe it or not, one of my highlights of the house was the ride-on lawnmower that came with it! I'd happily spend hours on that thing!'
The Cornwall Estuary House
Uttam Parmar, 58, from Leicestershire, won a stunning house with panoramic views of the Camel Estuary in Cornwall in August 2022.
He put it on the market for £4 million in October the same year in the hope of making a profit of £3,999,975 after deduction of the cost of his £25 winning ticket.
But the four-bed, four-bath property, which had superstar chef Gordon Ramsay as a near-neighbour, was ultimately reduced to £3.5million.
He put it on the market for £4 million in October the same year in the hope of making a profit of £3,999,975 after deduction of the cost of his £25 winning ticket
The house commands views of outstanding natural beauty in the surrounding countryside in Wadebridge
Uttam said he and wife Raki, 53, decided to sell the prize property because they couldn't afford the upkeep.
He said: '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.
'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.
'We considered moving there and staying there but with all the costs etcetera, it was a lot, so we decided to sell it'.
One neighbour laughed: 'I can't believe they wanted £4million because the way prices are dropping they would be lucky to get half that'.
The Kent clifftop house
An Omaze winner named as Jade from the West Midlands scooped a spectacular seaside home – likened to a James Bond lair and valued at £2.5million – in October, 2022.
The stunning home, just 90ft from the edge of a cliff with spectacular views of the sea, was named The Gunnery, due to having been built on the site of a World War Two gun emplacement at Kingsdown near Deal, Kent.
The ultra-modern new 9,000 sq ft home boasted eye-catching features, including a tunnel at the base of the cliff leading to a glass lift to access the property. Jade, who also scooped £50,000 in cash, described the win as 'life-changing' in interviews at the time. But within month, the house was back on the market for £2.5 million.
The unique designer home has an outdoor terrace with far-reaching views along the Kent coastline. Locals told MailOnline they believe a mystery celebrity had put in an offer for the property and planned to plant trees around the edge of the grounds to keep it hidden from prying eyes
The ultra-modern new 9,000 sq ft home boasted eye-catching features, including a tunnel at the base of the cliff leading to a glass lift to access the property.
Jade, who also scooped £50,000 in cash, described the win as 'life-changing' in interviews at the time.
But within month, the house, which boasts unrivalled views of the English Channel, was back on the market for £2.5 million.
Locals told MailOnline they believe a mystery celebrity had put in an offer for the property and planned to plant trees around the edge of the grounds to keep it hidden from prying eyes.
But estate agents Strutt & Parker said that sale fell through and the property had been relisted for sale.
Nick Ansell, 34, who works as a maintenance manager at Kingsdown Holiday Park next door to the property, said: 'I'd heard it was being sold to a celebrity who wanted to try and keep it a secret.'
He added that the glass-fronted property was much bigger than it appeared from the outside as large parts of it were underground.
Hollywood star Tom Hardy reportedly rented the property as a holiday home before it became an Omaze prize.
The dream home in Devon
Foundry worker Glen Elmy from Walsall, West Midlands, won a stunning £3million home in Devon with an infinity pool and breath-taking sea views in October 2021.
But he and his family spent only three days at the property overlooking Combe Martin Bay, Devon, before concerns about coastal erosion reportedly influenced their decision to leave.
Foundry worker Glen Elmy from Walsall, West Midlands, won a stunning £3million home in Devon with an infinity pool and breath-taking sea views in October 2021. Pictured: Glen with his family, left to right: son Sam and his fiancé Emily, Glen, wife Debbie and son Luke
But he and his family spent only three days at the property overlooking Combe Martin Bay, Devon, before concerns about coastal erosion reportedly influenced their decision to leave
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He was said to have returned the keys to Omaze and requested the cash equivalent to the property's £3 million value instead
When discussing his win at the time, overjoyed Glen said: 'I'm totally gobsmacked. The only thing we've ever won before was three pounds at a Bingo night on holiday.
'We absolutely love the house. If I could have designed one from scratch, it would look just like this-it's like something from a Bond film.
'We will be keeping it as there's no other house like it in the country - so why would we want to sell it?
'My wife Debbie lost her father to Covid this year, and our youngest son was made redundant last week, so winning this house is just what the family needed - it's life-changing for all of us.'
But after Glen left the property, a local neighbour stated anonymously: 'I never see anybody going in or out since the win.
'There is all sorts of speculation that it can't be insured because of how close it's been built to the sea and on the cliff edge. There is a problem with coastal erosion all along the coast here. There are signs around the beach warning about falling rocks.'
He was said to have returned the keys to Omaze and requested the cash equivalent to the property's £3 million value instead
The gorgeous infinity pool (pictured) looks out to sea and shows off the bright patio that is perfect for summer evenings
The Mirror also reported a neighbour saying: 'It could just be local rumours, but the person who originally built the building was told it was too close to the edge, and mortgage and insurance might be a problem.
'When I moved in five years ago, it was on the market for £2.5 million, but nobody wanted it. When the competition was running, we saw cars coming and going, but soon after the winner was announced, that stopped, and there's been nothing since.'
Omaze strongly denied reports that the property was at risk of coastal erosion.
Georgian country house near Chipping Norton
IT consultant Darren Wordon, 48, from Bath won a stunning Georgian country pile reportedly worth £2.5million in an Omaze draw in June 2021.
He and his wife Mandy and their two children initially moved into the five-bedroom country pile near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, despite fears of flooding in the area.
IT consultant Darren Wordon, 48, from Bath won a stunning Georgian country pile reportedly worth £2.5million in an Omaze draw in June 2021. He and his wife Mandy and their two children initially moved into the five-bedroom country pile near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, despite fears of flooding in the area
They moved out and the house eventually sold for £2.15 million in December 2023, almost half a million pounds less than the price originally advertised by Omaze. The home features an outdoor dining area and a cosy seating area complete with an open burning fire pit and fairy lights to brighten the dark evenings
The property boasts a beautiful open plan setting, with a kitchen complete with a breakfast bar and an adjoining dining room. The flagstone flooring is a feature throughout the property, as as the big and open bay windows.
A neighbour Julia Boardman, who had lived in the secluded hamlet since 1968, claimed that the house had flooded twice previously.
Another resident said that the winning family 'were keen to make a go of it', but had concerns about future floods.
They moved out and the house eventually sold for £2.15 million in December 2023, almost half a million pounds less than the price originally advertised by Omaze.
The Fulham townhouse
Marilyn Pratt, 70, won her £2.9million house in Fulham, south-west London, in an Omaze drawn in April 2021.
The house boasted a stunning contemporary minimalist design, with four bedrooms, a gym, a study and a high end kitchen, but the pensioner sold up just eight months later.
Marilyn Pratt, 70, won her £2.9million house in Fulham, south-west London, in an Omaze drawn in April 2021
The house boasted a stunning contemporary minimalist design, with four bedrooms, a gym, a study and a high end kitchen, but the pensioner sold up just eight months later
Marilyn eventually sold the lavish townhouse for £2.8million at £100,000 under the asking price, so she could use the proceeds to help her two daughters and grandchildren financially.
She decided to remain with husband David in the two-bedroom house they had lived in for 40 years in south-east London.
The Hamptons-style house in north Norfolk
Ex-Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, 38, became the owner of the most expensive home ever offered in a UK prize draw in February this year.
When Vicky was named as the winner, she admitted that she planned to put the house on the market and buy another place closer to home.
But there have since been warnings that she could struggle to sell the £6million house in Blakeney, Norfolk, due to alleged planning breaches.
The stunning three-bedroom house overlooking the coast was built to resemble the exclusive homes of the Hamptons area of Long Island in the US.
Ex-Miss Wales finalist Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, 38, became the owner of the most expensive home ever offered in a UK prize draw in February this year
When Vicky was named as the winner, she admitted that she planned to put the house on the market and buy another place closer to home
But there have since been warnings that she could struggle to sell the £6million house in Blakeney, Norfolk, due to alleged planning breaches
A member of the public tipped off council chiefs after the property was listed as a prize in an Omaze draw.
The issues allegedly included floor plans that appeared to differ from what was approved, as well as additional outbuildings, a tennis court and a swimming pool that were said to have been added without planning permission.
North Norfolk District Council concluded the property had 'not been completed in accordance with the approved plans' after an investigation which including a visit from officers.
A series of undisclosed recommendations were made to Omaze to resolve the situation.
Omaze has stated that it will guarantee the winner of the home will not 'ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue'.
Jamie Minors, managing director of local estate agents Minors and Brady, said: 'This will massively affect the chance of sale, as some people will be put off and will not want to buy it. It could also affect the value.
'Selling it will definitely be more difficult and challenging, as solicitors will definitely advise against it.'
he stunning three-bedroom house overlooking the coast was built to resemble the exclusive homes of the Hamptons area of Long Island in the US
The home comes with unrivalled views of the North Norfolk coastline
The home features its own all-weather astroturf tennis court outside, that backs onto the countryside
However, he added the high-end property market also attracted wealthy people who would 'try and find a way to resolve any problem'.
Ms Curtis-Cresswell, who bought her winning ticket for just £10, has never owned her own home before.
Only a handful of Omaze winners are believed to be still living in their prize homes.
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One of the few who decided to stay is Becca Pott, 32, who was on maternity leave after the birth of her first child when she won a £3.5million five-bedroom house near Ascot, Berkshire, in February 2022.
Becca who was previously living in a two-bedroom flat in Leyton, east London, still lives in her prize house with her husband Ben and their baby Ava.
She told The Sunday Times: 'We always knew we were going to move in and enjoy it for at least that first summer, just to experience living in a place like this as a family, but after a few weeks we realised we didn't want to leave so decided we should keep it.'
The other two winners to move into their incredible homes were in Wimbledon and Islington - two expensive areas of London.
A spokesperson for Omaze said: '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 – they can put it on the market the day they get the keys - the choice is entirely theirs.
'Whatever their circumstances, all Omaze winners have several fantastic life changing options available to them.
'Omaze is immensely proud to have created 38 millionaires whilst also raising more than £93 million for good causes in the UK since it launched here.'