Shivarna Mitra, 44, says her £217,000 three-bedroom home in Pudsey has been left riddled with structural problems and rendered "unsellable" after next-door neighbour Chris Rhodes demolished his half of the semi-detached property. Photographs show extensive damage, including holes in her walls and roof that have let rainwater seep in, harming electrics, carpets and wallpaper.
Four-year nightmare
Mitra, who spent years saving for a deposit, said she was "really chuffed" when she bought the house, but the ordeal has been a "nightmare" and has made her "very ill". She said: "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."
She claims the property is now plagued by damp and mould, as well as infestations of rats, squirrels and wasps. "The list of problems is endless, and I don't have the funds or the help to fix it," she said. "Everyone is shocked when they come and see it as they don't expect to see the house completely removed."
Planning applications and demolition
Mitra moved into the property in May 2021, when an elderly woman lived next door. The house was later sold to Mr Rhodes for £280,000 just over a year later. Mr Rhodes submitted two planning applications for extensions to Leeds City Council in June and August 2022, both granted. Mitra alleges he used these as a pretext to illegally demolish his home, a claim he strongly denies.
Work began in October 2022, and Mitra's concerns grew when Mr Rhodes removed the roof, leaving gaps that exposed her home to winter conditions. In January, she contacted Leeds Council, alleging the work violated planning consents. She claims the authority instructed him to halt proceedings, which he disputes.
Structural safety claims
Mr Rhodes contends that after a storm "the gable wall became unsafe" and that "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. He states the council only indicated planning permission should have been sought after the demolition, though he argues this conflicted with "safety" and his "guidance".
Work continued until May, when Mitra claims an official stop notice was issued. 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. 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 my son's chest and her health but no one cares."
Legal claim and council response
Following the rejection of an initial application for a five-bedroom property, a second submission was approved in May 2024. Mr Rhodes sold the plot with planning permission this May for £115,000. Mitra doubts the property will ever be rebuilt, as the new owners are "not cooperating" and want to "do things quickly and cheaply".
Mr Rhodes refutes any suggestion his work contributed to the issues and maintains he was treated unjustly by the council. 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."
Mitra claims the council has offered no assistance, maintaining it is a civil matter, though her insurer has lodged a legal claim. It remains two years until the case reaches court, according to Mitra. Leeds City Council has confirmed the property was demolished "without necessary permissions" following concerns about structural instability. It stated a team inspected the property and found it "remained structurally stable", adding: "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."
