A stunning 17th-century mansion in the Cotswolds is soon to have a new owner, thanks to a high-profile Omaze prize draw. Claimed prize includes the lavish £5.5 million home with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, multiple living spaces, a guest cottage, and a generous £250,000 settlement to cover stamp duty, legal fees, and upkeep.
Yet, while the prospect of owning such a grand rural home captivates many, past Omaze property winners have revealed the unexpected realities of managing such estates. Some have chosen not to live in these luxury properties at all, highlighting the costly and demanding nature of sustaining a historic mansion.
Daily Mail journalist Liz Jones offers a cautionary tale after moving from London to a Somerset estate with 55 acres. Jones recounts her struggles with practical issues such as an empty oil tank that left her without heat, managing vast grounds including an enormous lawn requiring a sit-on mower, and complications with tenants whose sheep damaged her land. Her hopes to convert an annexe into a party barn were dashed by a hefty £26,000 bat sanctuary requirement enforced by the local council.
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Jones also describes the disappointment of preserving her orchard’s fruit, which frequently went moldy, and the emotional blow when her dog drowned a neighbour’s sheep—resulting in the farmer’s blunt warning that the dog “would be better off living in a London flat.” Eventually, she sold the property at a significant loss and relocated to a rental home, relieved to avoid the overwhelming maintenance costs.
Her experience rings true for other Omaze winners, including Uttam Parmar from Leicestershire, who after winning a beautiful Cornish house, realized the prohibitive upkeep costs and opted to sell. Similarly, grandmother June Smith sold a six-bedroom Fowey property after only a three-month stay, choosing to use the proceeds to support her family instead.
Omaze stresses that winners have full freedom regarding their new homes—whether to live in them, rent for extra income, or sell outright. The company emphasizes transparency by providing estimates of running costs upfront and includes £250,000 to ease transition and upkeep expenses. Each property comes fully furnished, eliminating initial setup costs. Despite this, the reality remains that owning a luxury rural estate demands significant resources, both monetary and logistical.
For potential winners, the message is clear: winning a dream home is just the beginning. Without deep pockets and dedicated management, the luxury mansion could quickly feel more like an expensive burden than a blissful escape.