“You never know when your luck will change”

Our 2025 Live Rent Free for a Year winner is Susan, from Monroe, Oregon!

SpareRoom runs a monthly Live Rent Free prize draw that gives tenants the chance to win a cash prize equal to one month’s rent, and once a year, one lucky winner receives a full year’s rent. This year’s Live Rent Free for a year winner, Susan (65), won a game-changing $10.4K. We got in touch to see how she reacted to winning and what she plans to spend her prize money on. Here’s her story, in her own words…

“I never win anything, so I was sceptical at first. It’s taking some time to sink in, but I'm becoming more excited as the days go on. I’m still in disbelief, so the only other person who knows so far is my roommate!

I moved from Virginia to Oregon over ten years ago and I’ve been renting ever since. Almost a month ago I moved to Monroe into a house share with a lady and her two dogs. I’d been searching for a place that would take my dog and I, and thankfully I found someone local. My new roommate is a few years younger than me - we chat when she’s not at work, but we’re still getting to know each other. Fortunately, the house has a fenced yard so our dogs can run freely outside. My dog and the youngest of her two dogs play well and like to race each other, though her eldest is still warming up to us - it’s a big change for her!

I’m a retired nurse and caregiver living on a fixed income, and the past two years have been especially tough. I’ve had back surgery, cancer, and was without a permanent home for a few months, so winning Live Rent Free for a Year couldn’t have come at a better time. I plan to spend my prize money on getting my car fixed, and I’d also love to take a trip to my hometown this spring. It’s 3,000 miles away, which is why I haven’t been back in more than ten years. I want to visit my parents’ graves and our old home, and see how the town has changed since I left.

I entered the contest not expecting to win at all, but I held onto the tiny hope that I might. I’m so glad I did. I’d encourage anyone thinking of entering to do it - you never know when your luck will change.”