Paula Reed, a former Harvey Nichols fashion director, is being sued by barrister Tom Grayson Ford and his wife Jessica over the sale of her £5.5m Notting Hill home. The couple claim the property was plagued by flooding, leaks, and mice, which they allege Reed knowingly concealed.
The Fords purchased the six-storey townhouse on Westbourne Grove in December 2024. They say that soon after moving in, the basement flooded during heavy rain, they found mice and droppings, and the kitchen roof leaked. They argue these issues must have existed before the sale and that Reed made misrepresentations.
Reed denies any prior knowledge of the problems. In her defence, she suggests the kitchen leak may have been caused by the Fords removing a bespoke green roof of ferns and ivy. She also notes the property was renovated decades earlier by her ex-husband, architect Alfred Munkenbeck.
The Fords are seeking to return the property or claim over £1m in damages, alleging Reed acted recklessly. Reed, who now lives in Cornwall, has declined to comment further. The case is ongoing.
