A woman who won a £6 million home in an Omaze draw has been given the green light to finally move into the luxurious property, a year after her win. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, 42, secured a beautiful house in Blakeney, Norfolk, through an Omaze draw for Comic Relief in March 2025. However, she encountered significant challenges when attempting to take possession of the coastal property due to a breach of regulations uncovered during a council investigation prompted by a tipoff.
After months of effort by Omaze to address the issues, all outstanding work on the property has been finished, putting an end to what sources close to Vicky described as a post-victory ordeal. Omaze announced that the property is now prepared for handover, marking the conclusion of Vicky’s year-long ordeal. A spokesperson for Omaze expressed satisfaction that all necessary work on the Blakeney property had been finalized, leading to readiness for the handover.
This update comes following an inquiry by North Norfolk District Council initiated based on a tipoff prior to Vicky being announced as the winner last year. Subsequently, it was revealed that the property was not in compliance with planning regulations, as it had been constructed in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty without adhering to approved plans.
Although Omaze assured participants before the draw that the winner would not incur expenses related to the required modifications, Vicky found herself in a distressing situation, according to a source close to her. The source disclosed that Vicky faced constant inquiries for updates from various individuals, adding to her stress. Omaze clarified that Vicky was awarded a £250,000 cash prize and received consistent updates and assistance throughout the adaptation process.
Vicky was elated upon winning the property last year, as she, her husband, and daughter had been seeking rental accommodations after relocating to her in-laws’ three-bedroom home. She expressed her astonishment and joy, stating, “I was absolutely flabbergasted. My sister-in-law burst into tears; it was a mix of surprise and pure happiness.” She continued, “In a matter of seconds, our lives changed forever, and we became multi-millionaires. My mother-in-law feels like she hit the jackpot as we can now move out! It’s unbelievable. One week we’re concerned about our old car breaking down, the next moment we have a £6m house.”
Omaze disclosed that it intended to organize a walk-through of the property for Vicky later this month before finalizing the conveyancing process.
