- House has been compared to Chicago house from Christmas film Home Alone
A mansion dubbed the UK’s version of the Home Alone house has gone on the market for £7million.
The seven-bedroom home in Cobham, Surrey, is complete with a heated swimming pool, private cinema room, gym and wine cellar.
It has been compared to the suburban Chicago house from the cult Christmas film Home Alone due to the exterior’s resemblance to the McCallister residence.
In the movie Macaulay Culkin‘s character Kevin McCallister hilariously defends his home from burglars Harry and Marv aka The Wet Bandits.
Potential buyers are reassured that, unlike Kevin’s home, the Surrey mansion comes with a working security system.
The real Home Alone house is based in Winnetka, Illinois, and is said to be worth around $2.3million today – around £1.8million.
The 4,243 square foot property in Chicago boasts half an acre and attracts tourists from around the world each year.
Fans are now being given the opportunity to buy their ‘own Home Alone house’ in the UK – for the hefty price of £7million.
The property, which sits in a 0.73 acre plot, is stretched over 13,469 square feet – more than three times the size of the original Home Alone House.
Estate agent Adam Day, from eXp UK, said: ‘At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking this is the actual Home Alone house.
‘But it’s fair to say that this property is far superior.
‘It’s certainly large enough to host a film crew, but the last thing you would want to do is let Kevin run riot given his previous form for destruction.
‘The good news is that it comes with a full security system and so if you do make a habit of forgetting your children, you can rest assured they will be safe and sound.’
The huge home boasts nine bathrooms, a breakfast room, family room, snooker room, utility room, triple garage and a steam room.
It also comes equipped with climate control, underfloor heating, air conditioning, smart home system and solar panels.
Estate agents eXp UK said the ‘showcase’ home is the ‘epitome of lavish living’ and describe it as ‘masterstroke of architectural prowess’.
They added the freehold, detached home also ‘gives off serious Home Alone vibes and then some’.
The estate agents listing adds: ‘Crafted to the most exacting standards, it is a symphony of comfort and extravagance, offering a lifestyle beyond compare.
‘As one of the most expansive and luxurious homes within the estate, represents the pinnacle of comfort, luxury, and modernity, transcending the very concept of a dream home to unimaginable heights of splendour.’
Should we buy a one bed flat to keep mortgage costs lower or opt for a two bed and take in a lodger?
We have saved up a deposit to buy our first property, but with mortgage rates higher than we expected we now think the monthly payments might be a bit of a financial stretch for the first few years.
As we see it, we have two options – either downgrade from the two-bed property we initially wanted to a one-bed, with a view to moving to a bigger property in a few years’ time, or buy a two-bed and take in a lodger for the first couple of years to help pay the mortgage.
What would this mean for our mortgage application? Would we need to tell the lender that we planned to rent out a room, and would that income be counted towards our affordability calculation? And what would the situation be regarding taxes? Via email.
Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: There will no doubt be first-time buyers up and down the country that will be facing a similar dilemma regarding mortgage rates.
There are already signs of buyers compromising and purchasing smaller homes than they might have otherwise done, according to the estate agent, Hamptons.
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HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP
It reported earlier this summer that one and two bedroom homes were selling faster than three bedroom homes for the first time since 2010.
It also found that one and two bedroom properties experienced the smallest year-on-year falls between the asking price and sold price.
Larger homes, on the other hand, have experienced greater affordability pressures.
The average two-year fixed rate mortgage mortgage rate is now 6.66 per cent, according to Moneyfacts, up from 2.38 per cent two years ago.
This means that the average person securing a £200,000 mortgage and repaying over a 25 year term will be forking out £1,370 a month compared to £885.
You have pointed out that a lodger could help you cover the excess mortgage costs.
The Rent a Room Scheme enables homeowners to earn up to £7,500 each year tax-free by renting out a room within their property, as long as it is their principal residence and they continue to live there.
The tax exemption is automatic if you earn less than £7,500, meaning you won’t need to complete a tax return if you earn less than that.
Any person who earns more than £7,500 from a lodger in a given tax year must file a tax return and stipulate that they qualify for the allowance.
The tax-free allowance reduces to £3,750 if someone else receives income from letting accommodation in the same property, such as a joint owner.
It is also important to note that a homeowner cannot use the scheme if the room being let is not part of the main home or is not furnished.
Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical manager at broker John Charcol and Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former Rics residential chairman, give their views below.
A one or two bedroom home?
Jeremy Leaf replies: Many would-be buyers are facing this dilemma; the best advice is to go in with your eyes open and carry out as much research as possible.
We are finding many prospective purchasers are building in their own stress tests just in case interest rates rise further still.
They are ensuring they can afford their mortgage not just now but were it to get more expensive. Don’t overstretch yourself – if opting for the two-bed means it will be a struggle, perhaps think twice.
Many people advise against a one-bed flat as opposed to two with the thinking being that it will be harder to sell the smaller property when the time comes.
But think about your own area and take a look at what else is on the market – if there is a surplus of one-beds on the market now, there is a fair chance that when you come to sell that will still be the case.
However, in our area this is the situation with two-bed properties rather than one-bedroom; there are many of the former for sale and only a handful of the latter.
A two-bed will give you more flexibility and space, so think about your lifestyle and any changes that might happen in coming years.
If you were to have children, for example, you might live more easily in a bigger property than a smaller one, where you may be forced to sell up and move sooner rather than later because you don’t fit.
What are the mortgage implications?
Nicholas Mendes replies: There is no doubt mortgage rates have made purchasing a home for the first time more complicated.
Rates have a direct impact on monthly payments which means having to reassess which properties will be affordable within your budget.
It’s reassuring to read that you haven’t taken the common approach of extending the mortgage term as this will mean paying more in the long term but can also result in unknown consequences later by stretching the term beyond expected retirement age.
Purchasing a home is a long-term investment and you will want to ensure that it meets your needs now, but also for the future.
While we expect mortgage rates to reduce over the next 12 months these aren’t expected to dip below 4 per cent or return to sub 2 per cent that homeowners had been fortunate to experience in the past.
You will want to ensure that you take this into account when reviewing your budget now and for the future.
Taking on a lodger is an option, while the majority of lenders will accept applications with a maximum of two lodgers residing in the property, they won’t accept the income from a lodger towards affordability.
To use the lodger income towards the affordability, the pool of lenders substantially reduces to a handful of building societies, and certain caveats.
For example, Dudley Building Society will cap the maximum income it will consider at the level set by the Government under its ‘rent a room’ scheme – currently £7.5k per annum.
The property must also be judged to be capable of meeting the needs of the borrower(s) and their lodger, only income from one lodger is permitted, max loan-to-value must be 80 per cent and it can’t be an interest only mortgage either.
Finally, Dudley BS states that the rent from the lodger must not equate to more than 25 per cent of the monthly mortgage payment.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.
- The 19th century Grimston Manor near York has gone up for first time in 40 years
- The £1.75m mansion is valued lower than a number of one-bedroom London flats
A magnificent historic mansion is on sale in Yorkshire for less than the price of a one-bedroom flat in west London.
The 19th century Grimston Manor near York has gone up for sale for the first time in 40 years valued at £1.75 million.
The six bedroom property comes with half an acre of grounds and stunning features throughout.
And at £1.75 million, it is valued lower than a number of one-bedroom flats currently being sold in Kensington, west London.
The property, which was rebuilt in the 19th century as an ‘Italianate palace’, comes with a grand staircase and library.
The 2nd Baron Howden commissioned Decimus Burton – who also created the enclosure of the forecourt of Buckingham Palace – to rebuild the property in 1839.
Stunning photos show the house comes with its own wine cellar.
Tim Waring, from estate agents GSC Grays, said: ‘This beautifully maintained home is now on the market for the first time in over four decades, presenting a truly unique and exceptional buying opportunity.
‘Nestled within picturesque parkland the property retains many original features including a grand staircase while the library is now a wonderful 55ft long open plan living space.
‘The property’s location offers the best of both worlds – a country retreat that’s also conveniently located to essential local amenities and transport options.’
Grimston Manor is entered by a ‘sweeping gravelled driveway’ and its own exclusive entrance.
The Manor extends overall to 5500 sq ft with formal reception rooms on the ground floor including the impressive open plan library space with the sitting area having the original shelving as the backdrop.
The ground floor has a central dining area and kitchen with a secret doorway leading to more storage space and a basement area where the wine cellar is.
The listing on Right Move says: ‘The grand staircase is a focal point and leads to a central landing which has a studio/private office plus laundry on the northern side and the master bedroom suite to the south.
‘There are up to five further bedrooms and two bathrooms with one ensuite some with interconnecting doors and so the potential to create further bedroom suites (subject to appropriate consents).
‘The grounds are a notable feature extending overall to around half an acre bordering open countryside with a mature south facing vista from the full width colonnade accessed from the main living space.’
In Kensington, the same money or a little more can buy a one bedroom flat.
Several are on sale at Right Move. They include a £1.975 million first floor one-bedroom and one-bathroom flat. And a £1.96 million one bed flat just a few streets away.
Grimston Park Manor once hosted James VI of Scotland, who visited on his way to becoming the King of England.
It was also used by the RAF during the Second World War.
- House hunters in Derby were gobsmacked to find the shocking listing
- The home was a cannabis farm back in 2019, housing more than 500 plants
- Snaps showed plants, pots, fans and other remains of growing paraphernalia
Estate agents have faced online mockery after advertising a family home for sale using pictures from when it was a cannabis farm.
House hunters in Derby were gobsmacked to find the listing of the five-bed family home included photos of large plants, pots, fans and the remains of other industrial-sized indoor growing paraphernalia throughout the property.
The Derbyshire property was listed for sale on Rightmove by estate agents Bagshaws Residential for a ‘bargain’ auction guide price of £150,000 to £200,000 on 6th July.
However the listing went viral when people spotted the shocking images.
It turns out that the home was a cannabis farm back in 2019, with police snaps showing it housed more than 500 plants across the 12-room dwelling.
The photos showed reflective silver material peeling off the walls, accompanied by what appears to be large carbon filters among many entangled wires.
Panicked estate agents quickly hid the ‘incriminating’ images.
The ‘indoor gardening’ equipment can be seen within several rooms, with standing fans littered across the attic floor and more than 16 substantially-sized plant pots filled with soil stacked up in the kitchen.
There are little signs that it was a liveable space other than a small toilet, several discarded mugs and a clothes hanger in the kitchen.
Estate agents Bagshaws Residential’s listing described the three-storey home as in need of ‘a full scheme of renovations’.
The listing also warned that ‘currently no internal viewings are available’.
Meanwhile, stunned viewers online took to social media share their bewilderment as to why the estate agents would use photos that showed its previous history so plainly.
The Derby property is currently sold and under offer, while another local commenter claiming online that it sold for £210,000 at auction on August 1st.
Sequence Auctions, part of the Sequence group along with Bagshaws Residential, explained it was ‘vital that selling agents ensure the state of repair of the property is transparently shown so buyers can make informed decisions’.
However they did not clarify why the images appeared to afterwards be removed.
One person online commented: ‘Can’t believe the estate agents have uploaded these photos’.
Another said: ‘I’m literally two mins away from that house and I’m baffled how it was used for what it was being next to a primary school.’
A third joked: ‘Some serious indoor gardening going on there,’ with another adding ‘a bargain is a bargain in this economy.’
Someone else added: ‘It sold for £210k via auction, that surprised me. Thought it’d be more. No doubt it’ll be flipped and back on the market for £800k in a year though.’
The Facebook page for Derbyshire Constabulary’s Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team for Normanton and Rose Hill posted about the repossession of the home back in May 2019, writing: ‘Well as the late great Freddie Mercury once sang.. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.
‘Officers from Normanton SNT have located yet another Cannabis Grow with in excess of 500 plants in the Normanton area.. (plant emoji)… Currently gathering evidence and continuing with enquiries to identify the offenders..
‘We’ll keep you posted. £upinsmoke.’
Derbyshire Police confirmed that a cannabis grow was found at the property in May 2019, but that no arrests have been made in relation to the investigation.
Bagshaws Residential said it was a matter for Barnard Marcus Auction House to respond on – both are part of the Sequence group.
Chris Glenn, divisional managing director for Sequence Auctions, said: ‘Landlords that have had a difficult experience managing a property may have gone through months or even years trying to reclaim them and will quite often enter them into an auction for an efficient sale.
‘However, following the pandemic the auction process has somewhat changed and many auctions are not back in the room.
‘They have remained largely digital with many investors buying properties online without seeing them.
‘This makes it vital that selling agents ensure the state of repair of the property is transparently shown so buyers can make informed decisions.
‘This is especially true in auctions as the sale is a legally binding exchange, often on the day, compared with a private treaty sale which will take a number of months.’
- Detached house has six bedrooms and sits on three acres of land in Kent
- Three-floor property is a ‘super rare’ opportunity for investors, say estate agents
A derelict mansion with an exposed roof, rotting walls and a mouldy bed in Sevenoaks has gone on the market for £1.75million.
The detached house features six bedrooms and sits on three acres of land in the sought-after area of Sevenoaks, in Kent, popular with those commuting into Central London.
The three-floor building comes without a roof, rotten walls and a mouldy bed, but estate agents present the ‘super rare’ property as the perfect opportunity for investors. Most rooms only have beams indicating a roof being there at some point.
The listing on Rightmove reads: ‘Tyron Ash are proud to present this rare and unique site set within approximately 3 acres of land (1.214 Hectares) in a high value location of historic natural beauty.
‘Full planning permission granted for the erection of an architecturally designed 4/5 bedroom detached house and associated out buildings.’
The planning permission is for a family home stretching over three floors on about 9000 square feet as well as a detached triple garage, a detached garden room and an open air swimming pool.
The listing continues: ‘The area is renowned for its significant beauty as well as a highly desirable commuter belt location.
‘The subject property/site is located close to the junction with Rycroft Lane and is set within easy access to the to all local amenities.
‘Public transport includes Sevenoaks railway station with is approximately a 10 minutes car drive from the site, with a journey time to London Bridge Railway station of roughly 20 minutes.
‘This is perfect for investors who are looking for their next big project, please contact us today if your interested in being booked in for our exclusive open day.’
Social media users were left baffled by the price for the derelict house and joked the roofless property is what estate agents would refer to as ‘having potential’.
One person joked: ‘Each room in this large property is bathed in natural light and abundance of fresh air. The house also comes with several large, original feature fireplaces.’
Another added the house was ‘airy and [has] far reaching views in all directions (including up)’.
A third said: ‘Insulate Britain wouldn’t be happy with that roof.’
Others commented on the great views from all bedrooms and great ventilation the roof- and windowless house provided, as well as the truly ‘open’ floor plan.
There will be an ‘exclusive open house’ held tomorrow, on July 29. A user joked: ‘”Open House” is not usually quite so literal.’
- The property offers sprawling views of the Norfolk coast line and salt marshes
A stunning £4.5 million five-bed house with a four-bed guest cabin nestled in an idyllic spot boasting of coastal views is up for grabs – with the lucky person able to win the property for just £10.
The beautifully designed home, complete with a swimming pool and yoga space, boasts of views of the Blakeney salt marsh and the harbour in Norfolk.
It is the latest property to be listed as part of the Omaze Million Pound House Draw. The property comes mortgage free – with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, with the lucky winner also being handed £100,000 in cash.
If the victor decides to rent it out, local estate agents estimate the property could achieve a long term annual rental value of around £60,000.
The dream property has a main house with five-bedrooms, an additional guest cabin with another four-bedrooms and a standalone office. The sprawling home provides plenty of room for entertaining spaces.
The house showcases striking modern architecture that has been meticulously designed to celebrate the nearby coastline, through its use of floor to ceiling feature windows that perfectly frame the coastal views, which can also be admired from several balconies and terraces throughout the property.
The front of the home has a large landscaped decking area that links directly to the heart of the house – the open plan kitchen, living and dining area, complete with sliding glazed doors on each side.
When opened the doors create a seamless continuation of space from the swimming pool courtyard, through the house and onto an outside terrace and dining area that overlooks the North Norfolk coastline.
The lounge, set between the ground and first floor has a large framed view out to the North Sea, while the principal bedroom has twin dressing areas and bathrooms.
The first floor also has three further double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a balcony.
A wellbeing area provides a steam room, yoga space and gym with ‘Technogym’ equipment including a Treadmill and Weights System accompanied by a Peloton exercise bike – while the cinema room has been built in the ‘Everyman’ mould with acoustic walls, doors and ceiling
The guest cabin – which is attached to the main house – gives friends and family their own private quarters with a further four double bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms and the principal bedroom providing fine views over to the village and prominent village church.
All rooms have direct access to the private and enclosed gardens, with a terraced entertaining area complete with kiln fireplace.
A heated swimming pool, with the south to south-west aspect providing the ideal setting for outside enjoyment.
There is also a raised decking and an outside kitchen area with steps down to paved areas that surround the house.
The property also has a stand-alone studio building – dubbed The Hub – at its southernmost point. This can be accessed through landscaped gardens of nepeta and tall grasses, with a wildlife pond, which leads to glazed doors into an open plan area, perfect for use as an office space.
With a sitting area, meeting area and desk space, this is the ideal work from home setup, complete with a kitchen, shower room and a further room that can be used for storage.
An expanse of lawn sweeps away from the house, with wildflower areas, tall grasses and clipped hedging providing horticultural form all year round. Within the grounds is a kitchen garden, ornamental pond and easily maintained private gardens.
The house is situated close to Blakeney – a quintessential coastal village, with pretty flint cottages lining narrow streets leading down to the charming quay.
The village has excellent pubs including The White Horse and Kings Arms, a thriving delicatessen, art galleries, The Moorings fish restaurant, the renowned Blakeney Hotel and the convenience of a village store.
The picturesque market town of Holt, just over four miles away, is renowned for its boutique shopping, Byford’s delicatessen, good restaurants, pubs and further specialist and everyday shopping.
There are also banking and transport facilities within the town and a host of schools nearby.
As well as making its Grand Prize winner a multi-millionaire – the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Norfolk – will support the RNLI – raising crucial funds to help the charity continue its lifesaving work.
The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24-hour rescue service in the UK and Ireland, and their seasonal lifeguards look after people on busy beaches.
All of the training, kit and equipment RNLI’s lifesavers need is funded by generous donations. It’s with the support of the public that the charity continues to save lives at sea.
Omaze has guaranteed a minimum donation of £100,000 and has a target of at least £1,000,000.
The draw has been launched by BAFTA winning actress, wild swimmer and RNLI Ambassador, Joanna Scanlan, whose sister-in-law is a volunteer Deputy Launch Authority at RNLI Beaumaris on Anglesey, which means she is responsible for requesting the launch of their lifeboat.
Joanna said: ‘This fabulous house in Norfolk is a truly life changing prize for one lucky winner – but more importantly, the money and awareness raised through this innovative partnership with Omaze will help the RNLI continue its lifesaving work.
‘The RNLI has saved over 142,700 lives at sea since 1824 – and everyone who enters will be contributing towards the crucial training and equipment their lifesavers need to help people who find themselves in trouble in the water – and of course one lucky person is guaranteed to win this dream home too.’
James Oakes, Chief International Officer at Omaze, said: ‘We’re delighted to be partnering with the RNLI for our latest house draw in Norfolk. By offering this stunning property, along with £100,000 in cash, we’re giving people the chance to live mortgage and rent free for the rest of their life – as well as raising money for charities whilst introducing them to brand new audiences.
‘We’re incredibly proud that the Omaze community has already raised £15,400,000 for good causes across the UK.’
In addition to winning the Grand Prize house – people who enter by midnight on Sunday August 13 will be in with the chance to win an additional life changing £250,000 in cash.
Draw entries for the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Norfolk are available now at www.omaze.co.uk. The draw closes on Bank Holiday Monday August 28 for online entries and Wednesday August 30 for postal entries.
For full terms and conditions, see www.omaze.co.uk. No purchase necessary to enter. Over 18s and UK residents only.
- Flat was home to actor John Le Mesurier while BBC’s Dad’s Army was on TV
- Le Mesurier was best known for playing Sergeant Arthur Wilson in Dad’s Army
- Flat has a blue plaque from ‘the dead comics society’ on the outside
A London flat once home to Dad’s Army actor John Le Mesurier is up for grabs for £750,000.
The flat is in an extensive art deco block of flats called Barons Keep, which is just across the road from Barons Court Underground station.
The block has an unofficial blue plaque from ‘the dead comics society’ on the exterior revealing that the comedy actor lived there in the 1960s and 1970s.
The third floor flat has a south-facing private balcony that overlooks the communal garden area.
The current owner has owned the property for 19 years and is selling because they have a job in another city.
They explained that John Le Mesurier lived in the flat for several years – and that they still get the ‘occasional piece of fan mail’ for the actor who died in 1983.
John Le Mesurier, born in Bedford, is probably best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC comedy Dad’s Army.
Dad’s Army – a sitcom about the UK’s Home Guard during the Second World War – ran between 1968 to 1977.
A self-confessed ‘jobbing actor’, Le Mesurier appeared in more than 120 films across a range of genres, mostly in smaller supporting parts.
The three-bedroom flat has been fully renovated to include a new kitchen and bathroom. It is being sold by Nested estate agents.
The flat comes with a share of the freehold, with some significant charges that have helped to keep the block well maintained.
Recent work that has been done to upgrade the heating systems and water supplies to modern efficient systems.
The flat’s service charge is £7,548 a year and the ground rent is £225 a year, with 94 years remaining on the lease.
Barons Keep has good transport links via Barons Court Underground station, which runs to Soho in 16 minutes and Heathrow in 33 mins.
The average price of a property sold in Barons Court during the past 12 months is £847,498.
It is nearly half a million more than the £354,508 average of a property sold in Britain during the same period, according to Zoopla.
Daniel Copley, of Zoopla, said: ‘Despite its modern and contemporary interior, this apartment has a fascinating history and was once the home of acclaimed actor John Le Mesurier.
‘It’s also located in an iconic Art Deco development – Barons Keep – which provides easy access to Central London and Heathrow Airport.’
A four bedroom bungalow has gone under the hammer with a bargain guide price of £100,000 but the potential new owners will have a big clean up job on their hands.
The detached property in the picturesque village of Pant, Shropshire, comes with a guide price £180,000 cheaper than the average UK house price.
The estate agents described the home as having ‘fantastic potential’ and boasts a gated driveway, a front and back garden, a hallway, lounge, sitting area, kitchen, bathroom and shower room, as well as four bedrooms.
But it’s definitely not ideal for house hunters looking for somewhere move-in ready as the property is cluttered with rubbish.
It will go under the hammer with a guide price tomorrow and viewings are by appointment only.
The bungalow is being sold well below market value, but once potential buyers enter the door they will see why.
Although it seems like an average property at first glance from the roadside, photos show how the interior is filled with overflowing boxes of old possessions.
A bedroom with a TV lying face down on piles of clothes and bedding while another has a filthy armchair and rubbish on the floor.
The home is strewn with piles of rubbish in almost every single room and the interior is filled with overflowing boxes of old possessions.
The messy garage is almost stacked to the ceiling, which has a hole in it, with household items including a lawnmower, chairs and cardboard boxes.
Estate agents Town and Country are advertising the property as being of ‘non standard construction’ in a ‘popular location’ with a ‘large plot’ of a quarter of an acre of land.
The listing states: ‘Town and Country Property Auctions are pleased to offer this detached four bedroom bungalow of non standard construction set on a large plot of approx. 0.25 acre and offering fantastic potential for development.
‘Set in the heart of the pretty village of Pant offering all amenities.’
Racing fans can now rent Frankie Dettori‘s countryside estate, which features a cinema and equestrian centre, for £15,000 a month.
The jockey and his wife Catherine, 49, built the seven-bedroom neoclassical Hare Park Stud House in Newmarket, close to the heart of horse racing.
Dettori, 52, is set to retire from racing this year after a stellar 35-year career which has seen him named British flat racing champion jockey three times. Last week he won his ninth Ascot Gold Cup.
The couple are planning a jet-setting retirement, with the Italian jockey earning an income as a TV pundit and after-dinner speaker. They also plan to keep a small property on the estate in Suffolk where they can stay when in the UK, while renting out the main family home.
The property even features Dettori’s ‘sulking room’ man cave showcasing his trophies where he can escape to watch Arsenal or relax with friends while his wife watches Strictly. The property also has flooring rather than carpets, with the jockey telling The Times: ‘Because I am Italian I talk with my hands a lot. I’ve spilled a lot of wine — and I’ve spilled a lot in here — so thank God we don’t have a carpet.’
The 10,000 square-foot property is in the hamlet of Six Mile Bottom, six miles from Newmarket. It has 1.68 acres of Mediterranean-style gardens with an outdoor heated swimming pool.
Unsurprisingly, it also has its own equestrian centre which includes numerous stable blocks, seven paddocks and a turnout ring.
The Dettoris bought the original property on the plot in 2003 for £570,000 from Noel Cunningham-Reid, a nephew of Earl Mountbatten.
They then rebuilt it to suit their needs, completing it in 2018.
But now that their five children are grown up and only one son, Rocco, still lives with them, the couple has pushed to downsize.
They have decided to rent the home rather than sell in case they can fill the house again in the future when they have grandchildren.
The house has an impressive sweeping marble staircase and solid oak floor in the grand reception hall, as well as a double aspect sitting room, lovely family room and triple aspect kitchen/dining room.
There is a superb cinema room – apparently Mr Dettori’s favourite room where he keeps his trophies – a games room, study and seven bedrooms, six of which have en suites and walk in wardrobes.
There is also a garage with a self-contained annex above.
Photos show a big nod to racing used in the interior design with numerous paintings of horses on the walls, equestrian-themed ornaments in window sills and Mr Dettori’s multiple racing trophies in display cabinets.
Zoe Everett, from estate agents Jackson-Stops, said: ‘This is an exceptionally rare opportunity that will appeal to tenants right across the UK as well as overseas, who have a keen love of horses, animals, sport and the great outdoors.
‘The location lends itself particularly well to anyone working in tech or life sciences, with easy access to both Cambridge and London.
‘Being a contemporary country house, this property uniquely reflects the needs of today’s modern family, being highly efficient without compromising on beauty and presence.’
The reality company said the property will be available from September.
Mr Dettori has ridden the winners of 286 Group 1 races, including 23 winner of the British Classic Races. His most celebrated achievement was riding all seven winners on British Festival of Racing day at Ascot on September 28, 1996.
Just last week he had four winners at Ascot. He announced his plans to retire in December last year and will finish off his farewell tour in November.
- House will appeal to developers due to planning permission to divide into flats
- Property needs an abundance of work and needs a buyer with deep pockets
- It is called Dunolly House and sits next to the river on the edge of Aberfeldy
A Perthshire mansion is up for grabs for less than the average price of a flat in London.
However, the mansion’s price tag of £300,000 reflects the work that needs to be done throughout the property.
It is in a state of disrepair and the buyer will need deep pockets to transform it into a modern – and comfortable – family home.
The property may be snapped up by developers as it has planning permission to divide into five flats.
The two and three-bedroom flats would range in size from 114 metres square to 140 metres square, with features including a balcony with river views and a roof terrace.
The detached property was built in the mid-to-late 1800s by Duncan McDougall, a champion piper to Queen Victoria.
It is called Dunolly House and sits next to the river on the edge of Aberfeldy, a small market town in Scotland’s Perthshire.
The sale of the house is being handled by Thorntons estate agents.
There are nine bedrooms and large living rooms, boasting period features such as decorative cornices and ceiling roses.
There is also a feature tower with turrets along with generous wraparound gardens overlooking the River Tay.
The property in Aberfeldy is close to a golf course and within walking distance of amenities.
Aberfeldy was mentioned by Robert Burns in the poem The Birks of Aberfeldy.
The average price of a property sold in Aberfeldy during the past 12 months is £387,517.
It slightly higher than the £356,136 average sold price during the same period for Britain as a whole, according to Zoopla.
Rightmove says the average price of a flat sold in London during the past 12 months is £492,421 – almost £150,000 more than the asking price on the nine-bedroom detached house in Aberfeldy.