A Leeds mother says her home has been left structurally unsafe and unsellable after her neighbour illegally demolished his half of their shared semi-detached property. Shivarna Mitra spent four years dealing with mould, damp, and animal intrusions while recovering from cancer, while Leeds City Council maintained the property remained structurally stable.
Four-Year Ordeal Following Unauthorised Demolition in Pudsey
Shivarna Mitra, 44, purchased her three-bedroom semi-detached house in Pudsey for £217,000 in May 2021 after saving for years. Living there with her young son and elderly mother, she spent an additional £80,000 on renovations, which included a new kitchen and a £35,000 garden complete with artificial grass. The tranquility of her forever home
came to an abrupt halt after her neighbour, Chris Rhodes, purchased the adjoining property for £280,000 in July 2022.
According to Ms Mitra, Mr Rhodes initially seemed friendly and informed her of his renovation plans. Tensions flared when she asked him to reconsider knocking down the downstairs party wall, after which he became aggressive. Mr Rhodes subsequently lodged two planning applications for extensions in June and August 2022, both of which were approved by Leeds Council.
The situation escalated significantly by December 2022. Mr Rhodes removed his property’s roof, leaving gaping holes that exposed Ms Mitra’s home to the elements. When she contacted Leeds Council in January 2023 to report that the construction breached planning consents, the authority eventually served a stop notice in May 2023. Ms Mitra described that regulatory intervention as too little too late.
Living With Destruction, Pests, and Skyrocketing Heating Bills
With her side of the semi-detached building left exposed, Ms Mitra faced severe environmental damage inside her newly renovated rooms. Rainwater seeped through the roof and walls, ruining expensive wallpaper, carpets, and the home’s electrical systems. Damp and mould spread extensively across the property while Ms Mitra was recovering from cancer.
Water has got in through the roof and holes in the wall and has caused mould and damp, affecting my son’s chest and my health but no one cares.
Shivarna Mitra, Homeowner via Dailymail and GB News
Gaps in the structure also allowed pests to invade. Rats chewed through electrical wires, while squirrels and wasps established themselves in the damaged structure. To combat the severe cold entering through the compromised party wall and roof, Ms Mitra was forced to run her heating and portable heaters at full capacity during winter, driving her monthly heating bill to around £630.
Mr Rhodes denied that his building work caused the damage to Ms Mitra’s property. He maintained that a storm had compromised the safety of the gable wall and that, following HSE guidance
and aiming to prevent danger to the public and neighbouring properties, he removed it alongside another wall. Describing the toll of the dispute, Mr Rhodes stated that the situation caused him and his wife a significant amount of money and stress,
calling it 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.
Council Stance, Property Sales, and Ongoing Legal Claims
Leeds City Council confirmed that the demolition of the neighbouring property took place without necessary permissions and followed concerns regarding its structural stability. However, council inspectors determined that Ms Mitra’s adjoining property remained structurally stable despite the holes in its walls. Because the dwellings are privately owned, the authority advised Ms Mitra to contact her house insurer and seek legal counsel while continuing to monitor the site.
Mr Rhodes subsequently applied to construct a five-bedroom house on the cleared plot, but that application was refused in July 2023. Although a second design won approval 10 months later, he did not complete the project and ultimately sold the plot with planning permission for £115,000 to another couple. Ms Mitra states that the new owners have also proven uncooperative, leaving her unable to access the neighbouring land to conduct necessary repairs.
Ms Mitra’s home insurer has initiated a legal claim over the destruction, though she notes that the case remains roughly two years away from reaching court.