# Former Journalist Lives on Porch of Vacant £210 Million London Mansion

> Anders Fernstedt, a 58-year-old former journalist, has been living on the porch of a vacant London mega-mansion valued at £210 million for the past three years.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-19T10:53:38.711187Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/former-journalist-lives-on-porch-of-vacant-210-million-london-mansion-09fffe4c

For three years, Anders Fernstedt, a 58-year-old former journalist from Sweden, has made his home on the porch of a vacant London mega-mansion, a property recently valued at £210 million [1][5][16]. This unusual residency highlights the stark contrast between extreme wealth and homelessness in one of the world's most expensive cities [5].

His situation reflects broader housing and social issues, where magnificent homes remain empty for years, serving as assets rather than residences, while others struggle to find stable housing [4][5].

## What the records show

Anders Fernstedt, born in Sweden in 1968, resides in a makeshift tent against the pillared portico of the mansion at 2-8A Rutland Gate in Knightsbridge, London [1][4][5]. This property, which last sold for £210 million in 2020, is described as having 45 rooms, 24 marble bathrooms, and four private elevators, yet it has stood vacant for years [5]. Fernstedt's belongings, including baskets, books, newspapers, and numerous vases with fresh flowers, fill the space around his tent [5]. He refers to his collection of cut flowers as his “pretend garden” [4].

## The timeline

Fernstedt pursued journalism early in his career, writing technology articles for business publications [4][16]. He also had a brief period as a freelance fact-checker for The Economist after meeting a Silicon Valley correspondent in 2013 while living in the San Francisco Bay Area [4][17]. Around 2009, he developed an interest in botany and enrolled as a mature student, studying horticulture and plantsmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh [4][5]. Fernstedt told a probation officer that he became homeless in 2023 after being evicted when the house he was living in was sold [3]. He has since called the mansion's porch home for three years [5][16].

## What changed and for whom

Fernstedt's homelessness began in 2023, leading to his current dwelling on the mansion's porch [3][5]. In June 2025, he was involved in an incident in Hyde Park, where he was described as the “swan whisperer” [3]. Court documents indicate he clashed with neighbors after he “stroked, cuddled and kissed” swans and rammed a woman with a bicycle [3]. He received a 15-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement [3]. The judge also issued a restraining order, preventing Fernstedt from entering Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park or contacting the involved parties for two years [3]. The court noted he had no previous convictions [3].

## What the subject has said publicly

When speaking about his living conditions, Fernstedt has made light of the challenges, comparing them to “Everest base camp problems” [5]. He explained that one has “to be clever enough not to climb out of the damn tent every single time nature calls” [5]. Regarding his floral arrangements, he stated, “That's why I have my pretend garden here” [4]. He further explained that if rain causes damage, he might dispose of them, but otherwise, he lets them go to seed [4]. He also mused on the word “plantsmanship,” calling it “such a sweet little word” [4].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact circumstances of his eviction beyond the sale of his previous residence [3]. We also could not confirm the current owner or specific reasons for the prolonged vacancy of the £210 million mansion [5].

## Evidence cited
1. How a homeless man lives in front of a London mega-mansion (www.dw.com) — https://www.dw.com/en/how-a-homeless-man-lives-in-front-of-a-london-mega-mansion/a-79400925?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
2. reddit.com — https://reddit.com/
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4. theguardian.com — https://theguardian.com/
5. news.am — https://news.am/
6. youtube.com — https://youtube.com/
7. domain.com.au — https://domain.com.au/
8. visiontimes.com — https://visiontimes.com/
9. clickpetroleoegas.com.br — https://clickpetroleoegas.com.br/
10. trademe.co.nz — https://trademe.co.nz/
11. turkmenportal.com — https://turkmenportal.com/
12. businessinsider.com — https://businessinsider.com/
13. wikipedia.org — https://wikipedia.org/
14. scmp.com — https://scmp.com/
15. mylondon.news — https://mylondon.news/
16. franceadvies.fr — https://franceadvies.fr/
17. facebook.com — https://facebook.com/