In the heart of Knightsbridge, London, 2-8A Rutland Gate, a 45-room mansion that sold for £210m in 2020, has remained unoccupied for years. But on its doorstep, there is life. Anders Fernstedt has been sleeping rough on the porch for three years, surrounded by his collection of plant pots and flowers in vases.
Anders Fernstedt's story
Anders tells the Guardian feature writer Sam Wollaston: “The pretend reality is I’m the child, parents are in the house. I just said: ‘Can I camp on the balcony?’” His presence outside the empty mansion raises questions about the UK's housing crisis, where many are desperate for housing while luxury properties sit abandoned.
The Abandoned Britain series
The Guardian's Abandoned Britain series, reported by Sam Wollaston, explores the phenomenon of empty luxury properties. Sam tells Lucy Hough about how Anders found himself living outside the mansion and what these properties reveal about inequality in the UK.
Impact on the community
With many people in need of housing, the sight of a £210m mansion lying empty while a homeless person lives on its porch starkly illustrates the disconnect between wealth and need. The podcast highlights the broader issue of empty homes in London and the social exclusion faced by the homeless.
