Lauren Keene, 24, was living in a two-bed flat near Gloucester with her father when she discovered she had won the stunning £3 million mansion on the Wirral Peninsula last December
12:56, 09 Jun 2025Updated 07:16, 10 Jun 2025
The youngest person ever to win a beautiful mansion in a multi-million-pound Omaze prize draw is selling up.
Lauren Keene, 24, was living in a two-bed flat near Gloucester with her father when she discovered she had won the stunning £3 million mansion on the Wirral Peninsula, along with £250,000 last December.
Initially, full-time nanny Lauren had announced she would be moving with her partner, software engineer Ryan Mitchell, to the six-bedroom property which boasts panoramic views, a wraparound terrace, and even an outdoor heated pool.
But just six months later Lauren has said she is selling up for £500k less than the valuation due to the expensive upkeep and the hassle of being almost 200 miles away from her former life in Gloucester.
Described in its Rightmove listing as “striking” and “something truly special”, the mansion sits in a stunning elevated location on the edge of the rocky sandstone outcrop overlooking the Irish Sea.
But Lauren’s dad, Daniel, 46, said that although the house was beautiful, his daughter felt that there was no place like home. He explained that the couple are now using their savings and some of the Omaze cash prize to put down roots closer to family and work.
The pair are swapping the glitzy pad for a semi-detached property in their hometown of Gloucester. He said that his daughter is still living with him but she is due to move out any day.
“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.”
Daniel, who works as a kitchen and bathroom fitter, 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.”
He said the running costs of the mansion meant it was impractical to keep it on the couple’s current income. “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.”
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.
Speaking about her massive 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.”
Winners are not required to keep properties won in Omaze draws and are free to rent them out, sell them or live in them. Many winners opt to cash in rather than maintain the often massive homes, like Lauren has.
Of the 14 previous Omaze UK house draw winners, only three have decided to stay in their prize properties long-term. Several others have reported facing similar challenges, including costly maintenance and distance from loved ones.
An Omaze spokesperson 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.
“Omaze Grand Prize winners also receive £250,000 in cash to maintain their new property and help them settle in. Estimated running costs for each house are available for entrants to view on the Omaze website. If they decide to keep the house, they could afford to comfortably stay for many years using just the £250,000 settling in money.
"All Omaze properties come with no mortgage and no stamp duty or legal fees to pay. The properties also come with all the furniture featured in the adverts. Omaze styles each property with well over a hundred thousand pounds worth of furnishings and essentials, so they are all ready for a winner to enjoy as soon as they get the keys."