Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi U-Turn on Plans To Sell $30 Million U.K. Farmhouse—and Now Want To Turn It Into Equestrian Facility

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, appear to have changed their minds about selling their expansive U.K. farmhouse—less than a year after listing the historic property for $30 million.

DeGeneres, 68, and de Rossi, 53, initially purchased the rural abode, which is located in the Cotswolds, in the summer of 2024 and had initially intended to use it as a vacation home. However, after President Donald Trump claimed victory in the election that year, the couple chose to relocate to the U.K. full time.

But having made the decision to live overseas permanently, the TV host and her actress spouse determined that their original home base in the U.K. was no longer suitable—so they snapped up another, much more modern property just a few miles down the road and put their first dwelling back on the market.

Then, in January of this year, that listing was removed and it has now been revealed that the couple are actually planning to make further updates to the property in order to better accommodate de Rossi's horses, suggesting that they may end up using it as a more permanent primary residence.

According to the Daily Mail, DeGeneres and de Rossi have submitted planning applications for an all-weather equestrian facility, which would allow the latter to continue riding throughout the wettest months of the year. Given that the property has been prone to flooding when the nearby River Windrush bursts its banks, the planning application notes that it is impossible for the horses to be exercised outside year-round.

Two applications—one for a riding arena and another for new stables—are currently being considered by the West Oxfordshire District Council, the outlet reports.

Those planning documents also reveal the couple's intent to use the dwelling as their "long term home," if, that is, they can secure permission to move ahead with the build.

"The applicant's horses are on site in temporary accommodation formed in the garaging in an existing barn pending the determination of [the stables application]," the documents read. "In order to provide a suitable flat all-weather arena for exercising the horses this application has been made.

"The surrounding land does have some flat areas where the horses can be exercised in summer months—but it is also adjacent to the River Windrush, so for the winter and other wet times the opportunities for exercise are more limited."

The statement also called attention to the significant amount of money the couple has already poured into the property, which they renovated extensively before moving in—and then out—in 2025.

DeGeneres and de Rossi, who purchased the property for around $20 million, are understood to have spent millions on the overhaul, which they previously revealed had required a team of 70 workers to complete.

"The applicants carried out a successful renovation of the house last year and wish to make this their long term home," the application noted.

However, they are facing one significant hurdle in their quest to transform the 43-acre property, which is understood to be located on a site that historians believe is home to Roman remains. Fears have already been raised that any work carried out on the land could risk destroying those remains.

An archeological team from the West Oxfordshire District Council has already determined that, if planning permission is granted, DeGeneres and de Rossi must be held responsible for "ensuring the implementation of an archaeological monitoring and recording action (watching brief) to be maintained during the period of construction."

It's unclear whether DeGeneres and de Rossi will move to list their other U.K. dwelling should they be given planning permission. The duo is already juggling both of their British residences with another home in the U.S., which they purchased for $27.4 million in November 2025.

The property, which is located in Montecito, was previously owned by Hollywood producer Brian Grazer and was purchased by the couple in an off-market deal.

Since then, DeGeneres and de Rossi have been splitting their time between the U.S. and the U.K., with the former's Instagram account revealing that they are making regular trips back and forth across the Atlantic.

During their most recent stint in the U.K., the duo enjoyed a fun-filled date night in London, where they attended the British premiere of Billie Eilish's new documentary move, "Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour."

DeGeneres and de Rossi took the time to pose for a selfie with Eilish, before gushing about her new project—which she co-directed with James Cameron.

"Portia and I just left the premiere for @billieeilish’s new 3D movie that she directed with @jamescameronofficial. The behind-the-scenes footage is amazing. If you weren’t able to see Billie in concert, this is the next best thing and then some," DeGeneres captioned the post.

The former TV host and her wife snapped the photo at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, and Eilish stood in the middle.

Before returning to the U.K., the couple spent several weeks at their Montecito dwelling, where they celebrated Valentine's Day and DeGeneres' 68th birthday, according to their Instagram accounts.

However, by April, they had hopped back across the pond, where DeGeneres shared a video of herself tending to her enormous property on a large ride-on mower.

"It’s mowing time again," she captioned the clip, in which she can be seen wearing large ear muffs and a striped sweater, while dark clouds filled the sky behind her.

It's unclear exactly how much time the couple plans to spend in the U.S., having previously revealed that they were committing fully to a life in England, with DeGeneres explaining that they didn't feel comfortable remaining in America with Trump as president.

"We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, 'He got in,'" she explained at an event in July. "And we're like, 'We're staying here.'"

She then proceeded to gush about their new life in the U.K.

"We moved here in November, which was not the ideal time, but I saw snow for the first time in my life. We love it here," she said. "Portia flew her horses here, and I have chickens, and we had sheep for about two weeks.

“Everything here is just better—the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here."