A HOMEOWNER who has been trying to sell her flat for 10 years is giving it away as a competition prize.

Estate agent Katie Haworth has resorted to the holding a prize draw after giving up on being able to sell her Darwen home.

The competition will give one lucky entrant the chance to walk away with the £65,000 apartment mortgage-free.

Ms Haworth, 32, said she will only give the flat away if she sells 25,000 tickets to cover the cost of her outstanding mortgage.

She said: “It’s like a rope around my neck.

“I’ve been trying to sell it for 10 years, that’s a third of my life.

“I saw someone else do it through work and thought, why not?

“Whoever gets it will have no mortgage and no legal fees pay.”

Ms Haworth bought the flat in Harrop Court in 2007 with her then partner.

She said as the sale went through the housing market began to show signs of weakening and the couple were advised to put the property up for sale.

They split soon after and Ms Haworth lived in the flat alone for five years, before moving to accommodate her growing family.

Ten years later the apartment is still on the market and £50,000 in negative equity.

The mother-of-three said: “Every legal advisor I’ve spoken to has told me to let the property be repossessed as it will only stay on my credit record for six years.

“But because of the link to the financial industry I am not allowed to have any bad credit, I would lose my job.

“My ex is happy for it to be repossessed because his credit rating won’t affect his work so I’m having to pay for it and handle it on my own.”

Miss Haworth’s ex partner Martin Hargreaves said: “I just want to get shot of it, it’s been going on for 10 years.

“I don’t need it. I have moved on with my life and Katie has as well.

“When she told me about it I’d never heard of anyone doing it, so I looked into it and I think it’s a great idea."

Each entrant will be eligible for one free postal entry and will be free to purchase as many tickets as they wish.

To qualify for the prize draw entrants must answer a question correctly.

Miss Haworth said she is hoping to sell 25,000 tickets, which will cover the mortgage on the house and the negative equity.

The draw is taking place in April, via Facebook, live in the presence of a solicitor.

Miss Haworth contacted the Gambling Commission before opening the competition to ensure the process was legal.

It advised other houses had been given away in prize competitions and free draws, which are not regulated by the commission.

A spokesman from the Gambling Commission said: “Prize competitions must depend on the exercise of skill, knowledge, or judgement by the participant.

“This element must prevent a significant proportion of people from taking part or a significant proportion of people who do take part from receiving a prize.

“If you asked a trivial question, which did not meet the above requirements, this would be seen as an unlawful lottery.

“Free draws can be run in a way where there is a paid entry route, and also a free entry route.

“While this is being run the individual must ensure the free entry route is as visible as the paid entry route.”

Daniel Draper, of Farleys Solicitors, said: “Anyone taking part should be aware that it seems to waive any liability that the seller would ordinarily have in terms of disclosing information.

“There is also stamp duty to consider, even if the property has been won in a situation like this.

“It doesn’t apply if the house is a first home or under £150,000, but as of April 2016, three per cent stamp duty must be paid on additional property.

“Council tax must be paid, even if no one is living in it, as well as home insurance.”

If all the raffle tickets have not been sold by April the raffle will be extended by six months or all participants will be refunded.

She said “I’m not being greedy, I don’t want to make a profit.

“I just want to get what I owe for it then I can move on.”

Tickets will be available from rafflebricks.com.