Haunted by Adele: Mansion Owner Gives Up, Seeks Redevelopment
The owner of a mansion once rented by Adele has given up trying to sell it, blaming the singer's claim of haunting for the lack of buyers. After 13 years on the market, numerous price reductions, and various difficulties, Nicholas Sutton, the owner since 2003, is now applying to redevelop the property into five homes.
The mansion, Lock House in Partridge Green, Sussex, was rented by Adele for six months in 2012. During this time, she made a comment on US TV that the home "gives me the creeps," a statement which has haunted the property's marketability ever since.
Adele's comments, specifically about a "scary" corridor and strange noises in the former convent portion of the building, led her to hire a bodyguard for a reported £100,000 to stay with her. These pronouncements appear to have created a lasting perception of the property as haunted, deterring potential buyers.
Despite repeated attempts to sell, Lock House has languished on the market, with no offers received for several years. The price has been drastically reduced, and even after a significant refurbishment, the home has only seen one viewing in nine months.
In addition to the perceived haunting, the property has faced various challenges, including a high-net-worth tenant from Monaco who stopped paying rent and a subsequent lengthy legal battle to regain possession.
Sutton's planning statement highlights the difficulties encountered, stating that the property has been "actively marketed now for 13 years with no buyers coming forward." The only offer received was withdrawn due to concerns about the house being haunted.
The proposed redevelopment would transform the mansion into five homes, with an additional seven built on the site. This plan aims to address the challenges of selling the property and secure its long-term future.
The application argues that the project will preserve the Grade II listed building and deliver much-needed housing in the area. A decision on the application is pending with the local council.
Whether the ghost of Adele's comments will finally be laid to rest with this redevelopment remains to be seen. However, it seems that for now, the mansion's future lies not in being sold, but in being reborn as a collection of new homes.
