A mother has described her "nightmare" after her neighbour unlawfully demolished his half of their semi-detached property, leaving her home riddled with problems and "unsellable". Shivarna Mitra spent years saving for the deposit on her £217,000 three-bedroom house in Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
The 44-year-old alleges her home has been left plagued with issues following the demolition of the adjoining section by her next-door neighbour Chris Rhodes. Photographs appear to show extensive damage, including gaps in her walls and roof that allowed water to pour into the property, ruining the electrics, carpeting and wallpaper.
Damp, mould and infestations
Shivarna maintains she cannot remedy the problems because she is unable to access the adjacent land, which has since been sold by Mr Rhodes. The mother says the property now suffers from dampness and mould, as well as infestations of rats, squirrels and wasps.
She said: "I was really chuffed when I bought it - but the whole ordeal has been a nightmare, and it's caused me to be very ill. I have gone through cancer and had a major operation while all this was going on, so instead of recovering, I'm fighting battles from my hospital bed on emails."
"The list of problems is endless, and I don't have the funds or the help to fix it. Everyone is shocked when they come and see it as they don't expect to see the house completely removed. I spent a lot of money to turn this into a house of my dreams, but now I have nothing to show for it."
Planning applications and demolition
Shivarna moved into the property in May 2021, believing she would remain there indefinitely. An elderly woman lived next door at the time, but the house was purchased by Mr Rhodes for £280,000 just over a year later.
Mr Rhodes submitted two planning applications for extensions to Leeds Council in June and August 2022, both of which were approved. However, Shivarna alleged he used these as justification to unlawfully demolish his property, which he refutes.
Shivarna admits she "didn't know much about construction or building practices" when construction began in October 2022. She grew alarmed when Mr Rhodes stripped his property's roof, creating gaps and exposing her to the winter conditions. In January she contacted Leeds Council, alleging his work violated planning permissions. She maintains the authority instructed him to cease, which he subsequently disputed.
Structural concerns and legal action
Mr Rhodes states that owing to a storm "the gable wall became unsafe" and "following HSE guidance" and "to avoid any risk or danger to others and their properties" he demolished the wall along with an additional front wall. Only after they had torn it down does he claim the council mentioned they should have sought demolition approval, but he argues this contradicted "safety" and his "guidance".
Construction continued until May of that year when Shivarna maintains he received an official stop notice. She claims by that stage it was "too little too late". She said: "In the time he was asked to stop he had pulled down his side of the party wall and the breeze blocks meaning I only had a layer of bricks protecting my house from the outside. From the foundations, first floor, second floor, and up to the roof I am now exposed."
"Rats got in and chewed the wires, resulting the house needing full rewiring. Water has got in through the roof and holes in the wall and has caused mould and damp, affecting son chest and her health but no one cares. I have the heating on full blast in the winter as well as portable heaters. My bill is around £630 a month."
Plot sold and council response
Following the rejection of an application to construct a five-bedroom property, a second proposal succeeded in May 2024. Mr Rhodes disposed of the plot with planning consent in May this year for £115,000. Shivarna questions whether the property will ever be reconstructed as the new proprietors are "not cooperating" and wish to "do things quickly and cheaply".
Mr Rhodes refutes that his work triggered any of these issues and maintains he was handled unfairly by the council throughout the new build application procedure. He added: "There were very unfortunate circumstances that cost my wife and me a significant amount of money and stress. This was a series of unfortunate circumstances that have created a bad situation, of which I tried to work with all parties concerned at every point to resolve."
Shivarna claims the council has offered no assistance, stating it is a civil matter, though her insurance company has successfully lodged a legal claim. According to Shivarna, it remains two years before the case reaches court.
Leeds City Council has confirmed the property was torn down "without necessary permissions" following concerns about structural instability. It stated that a team had examined the property which they now determined "remained structurally stable". It added: "As these are privately owned properties, the council advised Ms Mitra to contact her house insurer and take legal advice. The council will continue to monitor the site and take any appropriate action as necessary."
