Several winners of Omaze house draws have sold their multi-million pound homes just months after winning them, citing high running costs and a desire to use the money for life-changing opportunities.
June Smith, a widowed grandmother of six, spent only one summer in the £4.5 million waterfront mansion she won in Cornwall before putting it on the market. She listed the house at its full asking price to provide financial support for her children and grandchildren. The property came with annual council tax costs of £5,181.86.
Lauren Keene, who won a home on the Wirral, said selling up and banking the cash gave her family life-changing opportunities. She used the proceeds to buy her dream forever home and start a new business. Similarly, Uttam Parmar, who won a £3 million Cornish mansion, made the same decision.
Roger Cana, a hospitality worker from Hayes, won a £4.5 million Georgian townhouse in Borough, London. He and his wife sold the property to give their son the best start in life and plan a secure future. The mansion came with council tax fees of £3,934.52 per year.
Luxury property specialist David Adams explained that maintaining such properties is a full-time job with eye-watering bills, often exceeding £20,000 to £30,000 annually. He noted that winners may face double or triple council rates if the home is a second property.
Omaze stated that it provides winners with a cash lump sum to help with running costs, but many choose to sell to unlock the financial potential of their prize.
