Katie Price’s notorious nine-bedroom West Sussex estate, often branded the “mucky mansion,” has found a new owner willing to take on its troubled past.
Despite Katie’s repeated claims that the home is cursed, furniture tycoon James Mercer, 62, has stepped in with a £1.15 million purchase—and a big renovation plan.
A Risky Purchase with a Reputation
The property, which Katie once bought for £2 million in 2014, had long been associated with bad luck.
Over the years, it saw break-ins, the deaths of several pets, and even ghost sightings.
Katie herself admitted that the house left her battling panic attacks, anxiety, and a deep sense of dread, insisting: “It is absolutely cursed.
Whoever buys it, I warn them, they will get bad luck there.”
But for Mercer, originally from Northern Ireland, the house represented something different: a fresh start.
Divorced and now in a long-term relationship with Leike Qu, he chose the property to mark a new chapter in his personal life.
From Haunted to Home
Unlike Katie, Mercer doesn’t seem to believe the house is haunted.
What he did agree with, however, was that the place had been left in an unlivable state. His solution? A massive overhaul.
Today, scaffolding covers the faux-Tudor façade, construction materials litter the driveway, and a digger sits by the side of the house.
The couple have reportedly set aside a substantial budget to bring the home back to its former glory.
Leike told the Daily Mail: “We are just very ordinary and quiet people who fell in love with this country house.”
A Personal Story of Resilience
Mercer isn’t just a businessman. A fitness enthusiast and keen cyclist, he has raised money for charity, including £800 for the Salvation Army in 2022 by cycling over 100 miles across London and Surrey to support displaced Ukrainians.
He regularly shares his long-distance cycling journeys across the UK and abroad on social media.
Still, like Katie, Mercer has seen his share of financial struggles.
Records show one of his companies was forcibly dissolved in 2011, while another went into voluntary liquidation.
Why the Price Dropped
The mansion was originally listed for £1.35 million, but Mercer managed to secure it for slightly less.
Katie never saw a penny from the sale, as the proceeds went directly toward paying down her debts tied to the property.
Before the sale, contract cleaners had to clear piles of rubbish and tidy up the grounds.
Even the swimming pool had been left empty, with concerns about potential land contamination surrounding the estate.
Katie’s Troubled Time in the House
Katie lived in the mansion for a decade, but it became one of the most turbulent chapters of her life.
From repeated attempted break-ins—some caught on doorbell footage—to the Channel 4 documentary that tried to chronicle her attempts at restoring the home, the mansion was always in the spotlight.
Tragedy also followed. Over the years, five dogs, a horse, and even a chameleon died under her care, many in accidents near the property.
She brushed off criticism by saying these incidents were due to “bad luck” rather than neglect, insisting she loved animals deeply.
Princess Andre’s View of the House
Katie’s daughter Princess Andre later described the house as “a very scary place,” though she didn’t go into detail about her bad experiences there.
Comparing life between her parents’ homes, she explained that her father’s house was calm and organized, while her mother’s home was chaotic but fun.
“I love the two different houses,” she said, adding that she enjoyed being in the middle.
What the Future Holds for the Mucky Mansion
For James Mercer and Leike Qu, the mansion represents not a curse but a challenge—and a dream home worth restoring.
While Katie may still see the property as a source of trauma and bad luck, the new owners appear determined to give the infamous house a fresh start.
