Shivarna Mitra, 44, from Pudsey, says her three-bedroom house has been left potentially structurally unsafe and unsellable after her neighbour, Chris Rhodes, demolished his adjoining property and never rebuilt it.
Ms Mitra 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.”
She bought the home for £217,000 in May 2021 and spent £80,000 on renovations, including £35,000 on landscaping the garden and installing new decking.
Just 18 months later, Mr Rhodes demolished his side of the semi-detached property.
Ms Mitra said the demolition caused severe damage to her home, leaving holes in the walls and roof, which led to leaks, mould, and vermin infestations.
She said she cannot fix the damage because she cannot access the land next door, which Mr Rhodes has since sold.
She said: “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.”
The house, which she shares with her elderly mother and nine-year-old son, has become infested with rats, squirrels, and wasps.
She said: “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.”
Ms Mitra said she raised concerns with Leeds City Council in January 2023, claiming Mr Rhodes’ work breached planning consents.
She said the council told him to stop, but by then, the damage was already done.
She said: “If the council put in the stop notice in January, there would still be the shell of a house attached, and I wouldn’t be as big of a mess.”
Mr Rhodes said a storm made the gable wall unsafe and, following HSE guidance, he demolished the wall to reduce the risk to neighbouring properties.
He continued to work until May 2023, when Ms Mitra claims he was served an official stop notice.
She said: “From the foundations, first floor, second floor, and up to the roof, I am now exposed.”
Mr Rhodes sold the plot with planning permission in May 2024 for £115,000.
Ms Mitra said the new owners are “not cooperating” and are trying to “do things quickly and cheaply.”
She said the property is now unsellable and that the council has not supported her.
Her insurance company has filed a legal claim, but she says it will be two years before it goes to court.
Leeds City Council confirmed the property was demolished “without necessary permissions” following concerns about structural instability.
A spokesman said: “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.”
Mr Rhodes said: “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.”
