Mother's Home 'Unsellable' After Neighbor Illegally Demolishes His Half of Semi-Detached House

A mother of one in Pudsey, Leeds, is living in what she describes as a four-year "nightmare" after her neighbor illegally demolished his half of their semi-detached home, leaving her property exposed, damaged, and potentially unsellable.

Shivarna Mitra, 44, who purchased her three-bedroom house for £217,000 in May 2021, alleges that her neighbor, Chris Rhodes, demolished his portion of the property in 2022, resulting in a pile of rubble and undergrowth.

The demolition left Ms. Mitra's home with holes in its walls and roof, allowing pests like rats, squirrels, and wasps to enter. The rats reportedly chewed through electrical wires, while damp and mold have spread throughout the house. Ms. Mitra stated that rainwater seeped in, damaging the electrics, carpet, and wallpaper. The situation has been particularly distressing as she was recovering from cancer.

Ms. Mitra claims the neighbor was only served a stop notice by Leeds Council months after the demolition began, which she believes was "too little too late." The neighbor has since sold the plot with planning permission for a new house.

Mr. Rhodes, however, denies that his building work caused damage to Ms. Mitra's home. He stated that a gable wall became unsafe due to a storm, and following Health and Safety Executive guidance, he pulled down the wall and a further front wall to avoid risk. He also claimed to have been treated unfairly by the council during the new build application process.

Ms. Mitra reported calling Leeds Council in January 2023, alleging her neighbor's work was in breach of planning consents. She claims the authority asked Mr. Rhodes to stop, but he denied this. She also stated that the council has not adequately helped her, viewing the dispute as a civil matter. Leeds City Council confirmed the property was demolished "without necessary permissions" and that a team inspected Ms. Mitra's property, finding it "remained structurally stable." The council advised Ms. Mitra to contact her house insurer and seek legal advice, adding that they will continue to monitor the site.

Ms. Mitra invested approximately £80,000 in renovations after buying the house, including a new kitchen and a landscaped garden. She now fears her home is unsellable due to structural damage and that she cannot access the adjacent land to carry out necessary repairs. Her insurance has filed a legal claim, but a court date is estimated to be two years away.

Mr. Rhodes expressed that the situation was a result of "unfortunate circumstances that cost my wife and me a significant amount of money and stress," and that he attempted to work with all parties to resolve the issue.