'Girls Next Door' Star Holly Madison Lists Her 'Haunted' Tudor Cottage as $9,500-a-Month Rental
Realtor.com · Hannah Chambers · 24 August 2026
TL;DR
American reality TV personality Holly Madison has listed her 1926 Tudor-style home in Los Angeles's Hollywoodland neighbourhood as a rental at $9,500 per month (approximately R175,000 at current exchange rates). Madison, who purchased the four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,929-square-foot property in 2012 for just under $1.5 million, decided against selling after weighing up the emotional and practical value of the home. The property — notable for its fairytale architectural character, exposed wood beams, and a turret walk-in closet — was previously investigated for paranormal activity on a 2021 episode of 'Ghost Adventures.' Madison cited co-parenting logistics and a long-term desire to pass the home to her children as key reasons for renting rather than selling.
Our take
While this story is set firmly in Los Angeles, it carries a useful lesson for South African landlords and homeowners who find themselves emotionally attached to a property but unable to justify holding it vacant. Madison's decision to rent rather than sell is a practical middle ground that many SA property owners overlook — particularly those who've relocated for family or lifestyle reasons but aren't ready to exit the market permanently. In the South African context, this mirrors the growing trend of semigration, where homeowners moving from Johannesburg to the Western Cape, for example, choose to let their original home rather than sell into a soft market. For SA landlords, the key takeaway is that a well-maintained, characterful home — even one with quirky features — can command a premium rental if marketed correctly. Tenants seeking unique, personality-rich homes are a real segment of the market, particularly in suburbs like Westcliff, Oranjezicht, or Dunkeld. The story also reinforces that rental pricing should reflect lifestyle value, not just square meterage.
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