What seemed like a fairytale win for Omaze victor Glen Elmy reportedly turned sour when he encountered a significant hitch. The property, reminiscent of a James Bond set with its infinity pool and breathtaking coastal views, initially appeared to be a slice of heaven.
Yet, the foundry worker from Devon was astounded in October 2021 upon winning the Stealth House, and his reaction is understandable. At the time, an overjoyed Glen said: “I’m totally gobsmacked. The only thing we’ve ever won before was three pounds at a Bingo night on holiday.
“We absolutely love the house-if I could have designed one from scratch, it would look just like this-it’s like something from a Bond film.
“We will be keeping it as there’s no other house like it in the country – so why would we want to sell it? My wife Debbie lost her father to Covid this year, and our youngest son was made redundant last week, so winning this house is just what the family needed – it’s life-changing for all of us.
“This house is so spectacular we’re going to enjoy our first family holiday for two years right here. I don’t think we’d find a better place anywhere else in the world!”, reports Glasgow Live.
However, Glen, hailing from Walsall in the West Midlands, is said to have spent a mere three days at the house before concerns about coastal erosion allegedly drove him away, Devon Live reports.
The Mail Online reports that Glen decided to return the keys to Omaze, opting for the cash equivalent of the £3 million property instead.
Since then, he reportedly hasn’t set foot in Stealth House on the North Devon coast again, according to the Mirror.
A source said: “I met the Mr Elmy when he was here for the publicity. He was apparently planning to stay for a week but left after three days and that was the last we saw of him. The corner of the house goes almost to the cliff edge, it’s about two metres away from the edge.”
Meanwhile, an anonymous local neighbour added: “I never see anybody going in or out since the win. There is all sorts of speculation that it can’t be insured because of how close it’s been built to the sea and on the cliff edge. There is a problem with coastal erosion all along the coast here. There are signs around the beach warning about falling rocks.
“It could just be local rumours, but the person who originally built the building was told it was too close to the edge, and mortgage and insurance might be a problem.”
Reflecting on the property’s history, they said: “When I moved in five years ago, it was on the market for £2.5 million, but nobody wanted it. When the competition was running, we saw cars coming and going, but soon after the winner was announced, that stopped, and there’s been nothing since.”
An Omaze spokesperson has robustly defended the integrity of a luxury property amid rumours it’s at risk of coastal collapse, firmly denying claims the house is ‘tumbling into the sea’.
They stated: “As with all its properties, Omaze carried out extensive professional surveys, searches and inspections prior to purchasing the house in Devon. Omaze can confirm that none of these reports raised any material concerns with the property, including in relation to coastal erosion. The property is fully insurable.”
It appears that Glen’s situation is not unique among Omaze winners, who often encounter unexpected issues post-win.
In a case from August 2022, Uttam Parmar and his wife Raki from Leicestershire became the proud owners of a “fantastic” £3 million Cornish coastal home with breathtaking views of the Camel Estuary. Yet, they reportedly had to vacate the property within eight weeks, a claim that Omaze has contested, as reported by the Mail.
Adding to the series of events, June Smith, a grandmother who won a six-bedroom house in Fowey, Cornwall, in May 2023, decided to sell the property promptly after just one visit, despite the home being considered quite striking; local residents allegedly referred to it as a “fishbowl”.
Omaze competitions have produced some heartwarming success stories, with one of the most memorable being that of Lauren Keene – who last year became the youngest ever winner by scooping up a five-bedroom dream house reminiscent of the Hollywood Hills, located in the Wirral. The ecstatic winner exclaimed: “The house is unreal! It really does feel like something you’d find in the Hollywood Hills! It’s made for parties, and we can’t wait to get everyone we know up here for a big bash!”.
