Leeds mum's 'nightmare' as neighbour illegally demolishes his half of semi-detached home

Shivarna Mitra thought she was buying her dream home in Pudsey, but it quickly turned into a "nightmare" as she claims her neighbour illegally tore down his half of their semi-detached home

A Leeds mum was left in a living "nightmare" after her neighbour illegally demolished his half of their semi-detached home. Shivarna Mitra saved up for years to put a deposit down on her £217,000 three-bed home in Pudsey.

The 44-year-old claims her house has now been left riddled with problems and "unsellable" after the neighbouring part of her property was pulled down by her next-door neighbour Chris Rhodes.

Shocking images appear to show damage, including holes in her walls and roof that leaked into the house and damaged the electrics, carpet, and wallpaper.

Shivarna claims she is unable to fix the issues because she can't gain access to the land next door, which has since been sold by Mr Rhodes. The mum says the house now has damp and mould as well as rats, squirrels and wasps.

The mum 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."

Shivarna thought she would live in the house forever when she moved in May 2021. At the time an elderly lady lived next door, but it was sold to Mr Rhodes for £280,000 just over a year later.

Mr Rhodes put in two planning applications for two extensions to Leeds City Council in June and August 2022, which were both approved. But Shivarna claimed he used them as an excuse to illegally demolish his house, which he denies.

Shivarna admits she "didn't know much about construction or building practices" when work began in October 2022. She became concerned when Mr Rhodes removed his property's roof, which left holes and exposed her to the harsh winter weather.

The following January she called Leeds Council, claiming his work breached planning consents. She claims the authority asked him to stop, which he later denied.

Mr Rhodes says that due 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 pulled down the wall as well as a further front wall.

It was only after they had took it down he says the council said they should have applied to demolish but he says this went against "safety" and his "guidance".

The work continued until May of that year when Shivarna claims he was served an official stop notice. She says by this point 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 my son's 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."

After an application to erect a five-bed house was rejected, a second application was successful in May 2024. Mr Rhodes sold the plot with planning permission in May this year for £115,000.

Shivarna doubts the house will ever be rebuilt as the new owners are "not cooperating" and want to "do things quickly and cheaply".

Mr Rhodes denies his work caused any of these problems and claims he was treated unfairly by the council during the new build application process. 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 says the council has not helped, saying it is a civil matter, but her insurance has successfully put in a legal claim. It is still two years before it goes to court, according to Shivarna.

Leeds City Council has confirmed the property was demolished 'without necessary permissions' following concerns of structural instability.

It said that a team had inspected the property which they now found it "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."