Organisers of a property raffle are warning of a little-known catch as tens of thousands of Britons enter the latest draw to win a £4.5million Cornish mansion.
The Omaze Million Pound House Draw costs £10 per ticket but entrants have been shocked to learn that the winner only has 96 hours to claim their prize and agree to all the terms and conditions.
If you don’t respond in time you forfeit the property – as once happened to one winner who had bagged a cash prize in a previous draw.
It comes as recent winner Kevin Johnson, 34, and his wife Dee spoke how his life had changed after they triumphed in the last draw to become the proud owners of a £3million Victorian townhouse in highly desirable Islington, north London.
‘I don’t think it’s ever going to sink in, to be honest,’ Dee told the Guardian. ‘We have dreams and desires about setting up our own business, so we have flexibility with that because of this win.
This £4.5million waterfront property in Fowey, Cornwall, is the most expensive UK property ever offered by Omaze
Recent winners of the competition include carpenter Kevin Johnson, 34, and his wife Dee, 44, who won a £3million Victorian townhouse
‘And the children definitely have more security, too. It’s a big win for them.’
Kevin agreed, adding: ‘Seeing the children living in a house like that … I can’t put that into words.’
Omaze, which launched in the UK in April 2020, hands 80 per cent of the profits from prize draws to charity.
Winners do not have to keep their house – they can also rent it or sell it.
While every home comes mortgage free and the stamp duty is covered, you will still have to cover the full running costs.
For the Fowey house this includes £4,218 per year in council tax – although the £100,000 lump sum easily covers this.
Plus, the mansion could be rented to holidaymakers for an impressive £14,000 a week, according to local agents.
Situated in one of the most desirable waterfront locations in the country, the house provides spectacular views along the estuary as well as the architecture of the nearby town and the surrounding Cornish countryside.
Designed by the highly acclaimed West Country architects Harrison Sutton, the incorporation of glass ensures the south west facing estuary views are a key feature throughout the home.
The bright and airy entrance hall welcomes you into the property, with an adjacent home office providing panoramic estuary views.
The main sitting room forms the heart of the home and gives incredible views across the estuary through floor to ceiling glass doors that lead on to one of the terraces.
The Fowey property is situated in one of the most desirable waterfront locations in the country
If the winner decides to rent it out, local estate agents estimate the property could achieve up to £14,000 a week from peak season holiday rentals
A yoga studio sits at one end of the garden with yet more breath-taking estuary views thanks to the curved floor to ceiling window
The serene space has superb proportions and a double-sided log fire, with a cinema and snug room complete with an 85inch TV on the other side, that also leads out to a west facing patio.
Mr Johnson, Omaze’s last winner, paid just £50 to win his new Islington home, which is less than half an hour from where he currently lives.
As well as making him a multi-millionaire – Omaze’s third London House Draw also raised a staggering £2,000,000 for British Heart Foundation (BHF) – the biggest single raise by Omaze to date.
His wife Dee, 44, has worked in childcare and education for the past 24 years. The couple have been married for 12 years and share four sons together.
They have lived in their rented three-bedroom flat in east London since 2011.
When Omaze first contacted Kevin to tell him he’d scooped a prize, he was on his way home from work.
He said: ‘When Omaze first called me, I recognised the lady’s voice from the TV adverts, so thought it must be genuine – but I didn’t for one second think we’d won the actual house!
‘When the team arrived at my doorstep to tell me the good news – I was so shocked my knees almost gave way!’
‘My wife was on her way home from work so I video-called her straight away – she didn’t believe me at first, but when she saw the camera crew the penny finally dropped.’
There are further mature gardens – and at the far end there is a seating area that is perfect for enjoying the inspiring views down the estuary
The property is accessed via a private drive through electric gates leading down to a parking area at the front of the house
The serene space has superb proportions and a double-sided log fire, with a cinema and snug room complete with an 85in TV on the other side, that also leads out to a west facing patio
Kevin revealed Dee then turned the phone around, telling everyone on the packed carriage she had won the Omaze house.
He said: ‘All the other commuters started clapping – it was crazy.’
Kevin added: ‘The house has space for three cars but the family only have one.’ He joked: ‘We need to buy two more cars.’
Kevin said: ‘We’re still pinching ourselves, whatever we decide to do long term, this is going to give us so much security as a family, it’s truly life-changing for all of us.’
He added: ‘My wife’s grandma had heart complications in later life, so we’re really pleased that the draw raised so much money for the British Heart Foundation.’
Situated just a stone’s throw from central London, the three-storey, 3,400 sq ft, Victorian family home has been refurbished and extended to the most exacting standards. The beautiful property strikes the perfect balance between cutting edge contemporary design, while still retaining its traditional features.
Pictured is Kevin and Dee’s new home in Islington, which features a grand lounge with wooden floors, sash windows and a marble fireplace
One of the north London house’s beautiful bathrooms – with stand alone bath and marble walk-in shower
The heart of the house is the expansive, open living space arranged over the entire ground floor, including a reception room featuring oak flooring, a wealth of period features, such as deep set ceiling cornices and cast iron radiators.
The reception room leads directly into a beautifully bright and airy kitchen and dining space – with the bespoke kitchen featuring a marble centre island and marble topped work surfaces – complete with top-of-the-range appliances.
Full height bi-folding glazed doors lead into the garden, which becomes a further extension of the living space in the summer months.
The four bedrooms are arranged over two upper floors, with the main bedroom occupying much of the first floor.
Filled with natural light by two large south-west facing sash windows and with ceilings of almost three metres, there is an open en-suite bathroom with a freestanding Corian bath, double basins and an oversized marble enclosed shower in one corner. A substantial walk-in wardrobe runs parallel.
The £3m home also has open plan living with the kitchen flowing out to an outdoor dining area
The four bedrooms are arranged over two upper floors, with the main bedroom occupying much of the first floor (pictured)
The reception room leads directly into a beautifully bright and airy kitchen and dining space – with the bespoke kitchen featuring a marble centre island and marble topped work surfaces – complete with top of the range appliances.
The money raised will help the BHF fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.
With 7.6million people living with these conditions in the UK, research funded by the charity aims to find new cures and treatments to help save and improve more lives.
This was the second time the BHF has partnered with Omaze.
They were the fundraising platform’s second charity partner back in 2021, with that campaign raising £1,000,000 to fund urgent research into heart and circulatory diseases during the most uncertain of times.
The latest donation brings the total raise for British Heart Foundation by Omaze Million Pound House Draws to £3,000,000.
Draw entries for the current Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Cornwall are available now at www.omaze.co.uk. The draw closes on May 1 for online entries and May 2 for postal entries.
* For full terms and conditions, see www.omaze.co.uk. No purchase necessary to enter. Over 18s and UK residents only.