London Woman's £5 Flat Raffle Aims to Ease Housing Crisis for Next Generation
A London woman is taking an extraordinary approach to the city's housing affordability crisis by raffling her £370,000 two-bedroom flat for just £5 per ticket. Gina Sapsted, a 36-year-old data analyst from Tottenham, north London, hopes her unconventional method will provide a life-changing opportunity for someone struggling to get on the property ladder.
From Shared Ownership to Generous Giveaway
Gina purchased her Tottenham flat in 2015 through a shared ownership scheme after saving for five years while living with her father. The property is located just 500 metres from Tottenham Hotspur's football stadium. Now, a decade later, she plans to move in with her partner and saw an opportunity to help others while selling her home.
"The housing crisis has got so bad, people don't necessarily want to win mansions on a cliff," Gina explained. "Actually, just having the stability of a two-bed flat in London would be absolutely game-changing. I think there's enough people out there that need a prize like my flat that it's worth doing."
How the £5 Raffle Works
Gina is running the competition through Raffall, a professional online platform that ensures legal compliance and transparency. The process includes:
- £5 tickets offering a chance to win the fully furnished flat valued at £370,000
- Alternative cash prize of £300,000 if the winner prefers money for a different property
- Additional prizes including £10,000 cash and two tickets to a music event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Charitable donations with 5% of ticket revenue going to homelessness charity All People All Places
The flat comes with 88 years remaining on the lease, and the winner would be responsible for monthly service charges of £289 and annual ground rent of £150.
Addressing London's Housing Reality
Gina's initiative comes against the backdrop of London's challenging property market. According to the UK House Price Index for January 2026, the average London property price is £554,000, requiring first-time buyers to save approximately £55,400 for a 10% deposit.
"I only managed to buy this property because I could stay at home for five years after graduating and save a deposit," Gina noted. "So many people don't have that, and because I have the ability to come into this in an affordable way, now a bit of me feels like I have a little bit of responsibility to society to see if I can do something to help the next generation."
Previous Attempt and Current Goals
This isn't Gina's first attempt at a property raffle. In late 2025, she ran a similar competition that didn't reach the ticket target to give away her flat, but the winner still received £158,000 – enough for a deposit on their own property.
For the current raffle to succeed, Gina needs to sell 116,000 tickets to cover the property's value. If the target isn't met, Raffall will allocate a prize pot to a winning ticket instead.
"Fundamentally, I'm not here to become a millionaire off this," Gina emphasized. "I just want someone to get a great prize, a life-changing prize, and for me to not have to go through estate agents – and to try and do something in a way that is a bit of a feel good story."
The flat itself offers impressive features, including panoramic views of London landmarks from Ally Pally to Crystal Palace and Canary Wharf. Its location near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium provides additional benefits, with major concerts scheduled throughout the summer featuring artists like BTS, Bad Bunny, and Gorillaz.
