Shivarna Mitra thought she had finally found the perfect family home when she bought her three-bedroom semi-detached house in Leeds for £217,000 in May 2021. She spent around £80,000 improving the property, including extensive garden work, a new kitchen, fresh plastering, carpets, wallpaper and a boarded loft. But just 18 months after moving in, her new neighbour, Chris Rhodes, began work on the adjoining property, which eventually resulted in his half of the building being demolished. Shivarna, 44, says the demolition left her home exposed to the elements and caused extensive problems, including holes in walls and the roof, water damage, damp, mould and electrical issues. She also claims rats, squirrels and wasps entered the property, while damaged wiring meant the house required a complete rewire. The ordeal became even harder because Shivarna was undergoing cancer treatment and had a major operation while trying to deal with the ongoing problems from her hospital bed.

Rhodes purchased the neighbouring property for £280,000 in July 2022 and submitted planning applications for extensions, both of which were approved. Shivarna claims the permissions were then used in connection with the demolition, although Rhodes has denied this. He said a storm had made the gable wall unsafe and that he acted after considering health and safety concerns. In July 2023, he applied to build a new five-bedroom house, but that application was rejected before a second design was approved in May 2024. The project was never completed, and the plot was later sold for £115,000 with planning permission. Shivarna says she has been left with a property she believes is difficult or impossible to sell, with heating bills reaching about £630 a month during winter because of the damage. Leeds City Council confirmed that the neighbouring property had been demolished without the necessary permissions, although officials said their inspection found Shivarna’s home remained structurally stable. The council advised her to contact her insurer and seek legal advice. Rhodes described the situation as a “series of unfortunate circumstances” that caused significant financial and emotional stress for him and his wife, while maintaining that he had tried to work with everyone involved to resolve the situation.