How Britain's most expensive house ended up occupied by a homeless person

A sprawling 45-room mansion in London's exclusive Knightsbridge district, once Britain's most expensive residence, is now reportedly home to a single homeless individual. The property at 2-8A Rutland Gate, valued at over £200 million, stands as a stark symbol of luxury real estate's complexities and the precariousness of its ownership.

The mansion boasts 45 rooms, 24 bathrooms, four elevators, an indoor pool, and 116 windows. Its history traces back to the 18th century, evolving from a ducal manor to a private palace in the 1980s, consolidated by former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. After his assassination, it passed to Saudi Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud until his death in 2011. Lavish furnishings, including gemstone-decorated bathrooms and gold-plated items, were auctioned off years later.

In 2020, the property was sold for a record £210 million, reportedly to Ding Yumei, the former wife of Hui Ka Yan, founder of the struggling Chinese real estate giant Evergrande. The transaction was conducted through an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands. However, following Evergrande's financial collapse and Hui's financial fraud conviction, the property's status became uncertain. Liquidators cannot seize it as it's registered under the ex-wife's name, while she cannot sell it due to her own frozen assets.

The current occupant, identified as Anders Fernstedt, a Swedish man with a background in journalism and a passion for horticulture, has taken up residence on the doorstep of the palatial home. His presence highlights the disconnect between immense wealth and property ownership, and the harsh realities faced by those without shelter, particularly in one of the world's most expensive cities.