Hospitality worker Roger Cana, 37, and his wife Shalini, 33, scooped the five-storey, four-bedroom home in the heart of Borough last year, along with £250,000 in cash, after entering the Omaze Million Pound House Draw
A father who bagged a £4.5M mansion dubbed “Britain’s most expensive council house” is still grafting – because his wife “likes him out of the house”. Hospitality worker Roger Cana, 37, and his spouse Shalini, 33, confessed that even eight months after their massive windfall, they continue to “pinch themselves” each morning.
The pair nabbed the five-storey, four-bedroom property in the heart of Borough last year, alongside £250,000 in cash, after participating in the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, London.
Looking back on how their existence has transformed beyond all recognition, Roger disclosed he’s still grafting as despite having all financial strain removed, he adores his job and has no intention of packing it in anytime soon.
He added: “My wife quite likes me being out of the house.”
The duo, who had been renting a one-bed studio flat in Hayes whilst putting money aside for a deposit, are now bringing up their first child, a five-month-old son, in one of the most coveted postcodes in the capital, with unobstructed views of The Shard from the house’s award-winning garden.
Roger added: “A £4.5m house doesn’t change the fact you’re still up at 3am changing nappies – it just means you’re doing it in a very nice room, with cracking views of The Shard, it definitely takes the edge off.
“We still can’t believe it really happened to us. Even after eight amazing months living here, we still pinch ourselves every morning.
“It feels like only yesterday that the Omaze team turned up and told us we’d won. My legs were shaking, my knees went wobbly and we were both in total shock.
“We celebrated by popping the only bottle of champagne we had and called our families straight away. At first they thought we were joking, then they went through every emotion down the phone. Now we actually live here, they definitely believe it’s real!”.
Roger revealed the enormity of their transformation still tickles them.
“Every time we turn the corner on our way home and see the house, we just look at each other and laugh,” he continued. “Going from a small one-bed studio flat that could probably fit inside our new kitchen is hard to comprehend.
“Now we’re living in a five-storey Georgian townhouse next to Borough Market. To say we’ve had an upgrade would be a massive understatement.
“We used to visit Borough Market as a weekend treat. Now it’s our local shop. It’s like popping to the best supermarket in the world, and it’s basically on our doorstep.”
Roger explained that maintaining their new home has proved much simpler than anticipated.
“The £250,000 we won meant we’ve never had to worry about a single bill or running cost,” he revealed. “It took all the pressure off straight away.
“Considering the size and location, it’s actually been very easy to run. The bills haven’t been anywhere near what some people might assume, and there honestly isn’t a huge difference compared to our old flat. The costs are more than manageable, and the £250,000 we got meant we could enjoy living here from day one without ever stressing about money.
“We’ve loved every minute here, but we’re planning to sell the property this year as the huge amount of money from the sale will be absolutely transformational for our family. My wife is an accountant, but you don’t have to be good with numbers to work out £35 into £4.5 million is a pretty spectacular return!”.
“Selling will allow us to buy our forever home, maybe just outside of London, and still bank a seriously significant amount of cash to make sure our future, and our son’s future, is secure forever. Even his children’s future will be secure! It’s an incredible feeling.
“I’m still working because I actually like my job – and I think my wife likes me being out the house some days!” Roger joked.
He added: “Regarding work, all the pressure has gone now. It’s a freedom we never thought we’d have. This win has given us unbelievable financial stability, we couldn’t have ever imagined being in such a good position.”
The historic Georgian townhouse is rich with heritage, boasting a distinctive ‘Take Courage’ ghost sign on its facade and positioned just moments from Borough Market, the Tate Modern and the South Bank. Its prize-winning garden boasts unobstructed vistas of The Shard, something Roger admits still takes his breath away.
He went on: “We’ll never struggle to find our way home. All we need to do is look for The Shard. I used to see it on TV, but now I can see it out the window while I’m watching TV. It still makes me smile every time.”
Roger revealed that fatherhood has made the whole experience even more meaningful.
“Our son is five months old now and this house has been his whole world so far, which is just mind boggling,” he explained. “Not many babies grow up with a view of The Shard from their bedroom.
“It’s been the best year of our lives. New home, new baby and a completely new future for our family.”
James Oakes, President of Omaze, commented: “Roger’s story perfectly captures what Omaze is all about. Life-changing prizes that remove financial pressures, while raising millions for incredible causes across the UK.”
Beyond transforming Roger into a multimillionaire, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, London, generated £4.1 million for The King’s Trust.
Tickets for the current Omaze Million Pound House Draw in London are on sale now at omaze.co.uk. The Grand Prize Draw closes this Sunday 25th January 2026 for online entries and Tuesday 27th January 2026 for postal entries.
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