Lauren Keene, 24, won a £3million property in an Omaze prize draw last December, but after just six months, she has decided to sell the luxury home for £500,000 less than its value
Lauren Keene made headlines last December when she became the youngest ever winner of a multi-million-pound Omaze prize draw, landing a breathtaking £3million mansion on the Wirral Peninsula, along with a £250,000 cash bonus.
But just six months later, the full-time nanny from Gloucester has decided to part ways with the luxury home, putting it on the market for £2.5million – half a million pounds below its estimated value.
The modern, six-bedroom property sits in a stunning elevated location on the edge of the rocky sandstone outcrop overlooking the Irish Sea, with panoramic views, a wraparound terrace, and an outdoor heated pool.
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Described in its Rightmove listing as “striking” and “something truly special”, the house blends contemporary architecture with natural beauty and is just a short stroll from Caldy Beach. However, the dream home has proved impractical.
Lauren, 24, who bought the winning ticket for just £20, initially said she and her partner, software engineer Ryan Mitchell, were considering moving into the mansion.
At the time, she was living with her father, Daniel Keene, in a modest two-bedroom flat near Gloucester. The Omaze win, which she celebrated with a McDonald’s meal, seemed to be a complete life transformation.
“Only last week we were looking at houses we thought we could never afford,” she said after the win. “Now our first property is a £3million mansion. It’s crazy to think we’ll never have a mortgage. It’s life-changing.”
However, the couple quickly realised that the distance – nearly 200 miles from Gloucester – and the cost of maintaining such a large property made living there unrealistic. They only spent a few nights in the home before deciding to sell.
Lauren’s dad, Daniel, 46, who works as a kitchen and bathroom fitter, explained the reasoning behind her decision. “It is a lovely house, but the associated costs are significant,” he told the Mail Online. “For example, although the pool is heated, it’s outdoors and not thermally protected, so the heat escapes very quickly. Keeping it warm in the winter would cost a fortune. They’ve turned it off for now, but we braved it during our visit—and I can tell you that water is very cold.”
Daniel added that Lauren and Ryan are now buying a more modest, semi-detached property in their hometown of Gloucester, using their savings and some of the Omaze cash prize to put down roots closer to family and work. He hinted that the move is imminent, though Lauren is still living at home for now. “Every week she tells me she’s moving out, and every week she’s still here,” he laughed. “But what’s important is that she’s happy and doing what’s right for her. And in both cases, she is.”
He added: “I’m sure when they do move in, I’ll be asked to fit the new bathroom and kitchen. And it’ll be a pleasure.”
Though Lauren is selling the house, the £250,000 cash prize and the proceeds from the eventual sale will ensure financial security and a strong start to homeownership for the young couple.
Reflecting on her win at the time, Lauren said: “Winning this house has transformed our lives forever. Whatever we decide to do long-term, we’re made for life now.”
Under Omaze rules, winners are not required to keep the properties for any set period and are free to rent them out, sell them, or move in. Many winners opt to cash in rather than maintain the often palatial homes.
Lauren’s decision to sell isn’t unusual. Of the 14 previous Omaze UK house draw winners, only three have decided to stay in their prize properties long-term. Several others have cited similar challenges, including costly maintenance and distance from loved ones.
In 2023, June Smith, a widow who won a £4.5million Cornish mansion, put the home up for sale so she could help her children and grandchildren financially. Others, like Lauren, have chosen to use their winnings to build a more sustainable life closer to home.
One of the few winners who did keep their Omaze home is finance analyst Becca Pott, 32, who was living in a small flat in east London when she won a £3.5 million, five-bedroom house near Ascot in February 2022. After initially planning to stay for just the summer, she and her husband Ben decided to make it their permanent home, raising their daughter Ava in the luxury build.
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.”
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