Nina Westervelt/Variety/Getty; Getty; Gary Gershoff/WireImage Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom started renting out their Montecito home in February, a source tells PEOPLE Earlier this week, PEOPLE confirmed the couple was ending their engagement after nine years together, five of them as fiancées Perry first purchased the home in July 2020 for $15 million before a years-long legal battle for ownership of the property ensued Katy PerryandOrlando Bloombegan renting out their Montecito, Calif. home in February, a source tells PEOPLE. The news follows the announcement that the singer, 40, and actor, 48,called off their engagementafter nine years together. The "Roar" singer first purchased the 1930s mansion from entrepreneur Carl Westcott for $15 million in July 2020. At the time, she intended to use the eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom estates as the couple's family home. However, ayears-long legal battleensued after the original owner asked to rescind the deal. Perry officially took ownershipof the Santa Barbara County home on May 17, 2024, according to property records obtained by theWall Street Journal. Though, it's unclear if the couple ever moved into the home after officially gaining access to the property. The sprawling 9,285-square-foot property sits on roughly 2.5 acres and has an infinity pool, jacuzzi, outdoor fireplace, kitchen area and a three-bedroom guesthouse that overlooks the ocean. Westcott, 85 — who was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease, a genetic brain disorder, in 2015 — cited mental incapacity as his reason for attempting to rescind the deal. But, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled he was sound of mind when he agreed to sell the property. Monica Schipper/Getty "Today's proposed decision is clear — the judge found that Mr. Westcott could not prove anything other than he was of perfectly sound mind when he engaged in complex negotiations over several weeks with multiple parties to transact a lucrative sale of the property that netted him a substantial profit," Perry's attorney, Eric Rowen, said in a statement shared withPEOPLE. Rowen continued, "The evidence shows that Mr. Westcott breached the contract for no other reason than he had changed his mind. We look forward to wrapping this matter up at the scheduled damage trial phase." Westcott originally filed suit against Perry's business manager Bernie Gudvi in August 2020 and the trial began in late September. The judge has since bifurcated the case and Perry is now involved in a countersuit against the entrepreneur. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The singer is seeking $6 million in damages, alleging $3 million will cover her loss of rental income. After Walcott rescinded his offer, Bloom and Perry cosigned a letter addressed to the 1-800-Flowers founder saying the property would be a perfect place to raise their daughter. Robin Marchant/Getty "As you know we are expecting a baby next month and know that this will be the best place to bring her home to and raise her in," the couple wrote in a letter later obtained byPEOPLE. "Though there were other properties that did interest us, yours will provide us with the comfort of security, privacy and safety… This home will be a respite, one where we will be able to grow together as a family."The couple welcomed daughterDaisy Dove Bloom, now 4, in August 2020 after getting engaged the year prior.Perry and Bloom first meteach other at a Golden Globes afterparty in January 2016. Read the original article onPeople
