In one of London's most exclusive postcodes, a Swedish squatter has established an unconventional home on the doorstep of a £210 million mansion, only to find his sleep disrupted by the roaring engines of luxury supercars. Anders Fernstedt, 57, resides in the portico of an abandoned 45-room property at 2-8a Rutland Gate in Knightsbridge, an area famously known as billionaire's row.
A Self-Made Shelter Amidst Extreme Wealth
Fernstedt, who arrived in the UK in 1996 to study at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh after working in software development in the USA, found himself homeless around 2017 following job loss and the loss of his houseboat. He has since transformed the entrance of the gutted mansion into what he describes as his "Mandarin Oriental luxury suite," complete with a Hungarian down duvet, designer clothes from Armani and Tom Ford, a £5,000 Fortnum & Mason hamper, and dozens of house plants.
The Noisy Drawbacks of Prime Real Estate
Despite the opulent surroundings, Fernstedt reports a significant drawback: the constant noise from his wealthy neighbours. He told The Sun that he is kept awake at night by the "screech of Lamborghinis at midnight" and the clip-clop of hooves as horses depart from the nearby Knightsbridge barracks. The echoing sounds disturb his rest in a location that spans over 60,000 square feet and has reportedly sat unoccupied for a decade.
The property is allegedly owned by disgraced Chinese billionaire and Communist Party Secretary Hui Ka Yan, and was previously owned by former Saudi Arabian crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz until his death in 2011. Fernstedt, who comes from the small Swedish town of Borås, has befriended many of his affluent neighbours, who shower him with donations including free clothes, food, and even an iPhone.
A Complex Legal History and Unusual Lifestyle
Fernstedt's story took a dramatic turn last year when he became the subject of a Crown Court trial after being caught embracing swans in Hyde Park. Southwark Crown Court heard how he "stroked, cuddled and kissed" the birds after luring them with food, leading to concerns about spreading bird flu. The incident escalated when he rammed his bike into a local resident who filmed him, and he assaulted a swan volunteer, leaving the victim with injuries requiring medical attention.
As a result, Fernstedt was sentenced to a 15-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation requirement, banned from Hyde Park's Kensington Gardens, and handed a two-year restraining order against his victims. He represented himself during the four-day trial, where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and has since been nicknamed "The Swan Whisperer."
Daily Routines and Philosophical Outlook
Despite these legal troubles, Fernstedt maintains a structured daily routine. He works out on gym bars found in the street, showers for free in nearby Victoria, immerses himself in novels by historian William Dalrymple and economists, and attends a nearby church as a practising Russian Orthodox Christian. He uses the church facilities as an en-suite to his makeshift mansion home.
Fernstedt, who dresses in blazers and waistcoats, claims he has never claimed benefits and has never been dependent on alcohol. When questioned about his happiness, he replied, "Yes I am. I smile a lot, I laugh a lot. I'm not running from anything, I'm also not running to everything. I'm not my own enemy. I live like I'm retired, I'm not stuck in the past or future."
Council Response and Ongoing Mystery
Westminster City Council has stated that Fernstedt intentionally made himself homeless, and he remains the only person sleeping rough outside the terraced houses of Rutland Gate. He believes his neighbours tolerate his presence because they think "one is none, but two is a Calais camp."
Fernstedt's avian passion even led to his discovery of the derelict mansion during his daily visits to meet swans at the nearby Serpentine Lake. Protective about aspects of his life, when asked about his childhood by the Daily Mail, he said, "The best thing for a child is benign neglect. It was all the stuff a boy needs, sports, nature and no dangers."
His story continues to be a mystery, blending elements of luxury, legal controversy, and an unconventional approach to homelessness in one of Britain's most expensive neighbourhoods.
