Leeds carpenter defends demolishing his half of a semi-detached home
A carpenter who illegally demolished his half of a semi-detached home in Pudsey, Leeds, has insisted he acted responsibly despite allegations he left his former neighbour's property damaged and unsellable. Chris Rhodes, 47, has defended his decision to tear down his portion of the building, with Shivarna Mitra, 44, claiming the work left her side with damp, mould and electrical damage over a four-year ordeal. The dispute raises questions about building enforcement and the remedies available when neighbouring properties are harmed by unauthorised construction work.
Rhodes purchased the three-bedroom property for £280,000 in July 2022 and applied for planning permission for extensions in June and August 2022, both of which were approved. Work began in October 2022, but Ms Mitra reported it to Leeds city council in January 2023, claiming the demolition breached planning consent. Rhodes has since left the UK and sold the land (with planning permission) for £115,000 to new owners, whilst denying responsibility for the damage to his neighbour's home and disputing key facts about their interactions.
- Carpenter illegally demolished his half of semi-detached home in Leeds
- Neighbour left with damp, mould, electrical damage and unsellable property
- Rhodes sold the land and left UK whilst denying responsibility
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A semi-detached home is a house that shares a wall with another identical property; the two halves are structurally connected. In Leeds, one owner demolished his half of such a property while his neighbour was still living in the adjoining half. The neighbour claims the demolition caused damp, mould, and electrical problems that have persisted for over four years, making her home unsellable.
The property was purchased by Chris Rhodes in July 2022 with planning approval for extensions. Work began in October 2022, but his neighbour, Shivarna Mitra, reported it to the local council in January 2023, alleging the demolition breached the approved plans. Rhodes has since left the UK and sold the land to new owners, whilst disputing responsibility for the damage.
The case raises questions about how local authorities enforce building regulations and what remedies are available when unauthorised construction work damages a neighbouring property. The dispute centres on enforcement of building rules, liability for damage, and what recourse is available to an affected neighbour.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Rhodes obtained planning permission for legitimate extensions to his property and proceeded with lawful development within regulatory frameworks. Property owners have fundamental rights to use and develop their own land, and complex structural issues in semi-detached homes can result from multiple factors. He disputes key facts about the alleged damage and contends he acted properly within available procedures. If his neighbour suffered damage, the appropriate remedies would be civil proceedings, insurance claims, or building regulation enforcement rather than unilateral assertions of personal liability without thorough investigation.
The case against
Semi-detached homes are inherently interdependent structures, and major demolition work on one side directly affects the adjoining property. Rhodes had both legal and moral duty of care to protect his neighbour's home during construction; planning permission does not exempt developers from preventing harm to adjoining properties. His neighbour endured four years of damp, mould, and electrical damage that made her home unsellable—a serious breach of the neighbour principle that underpins property law. His subsequent departure from the UK and sale of the land without resolving her legitimate claims suggests avoidance of accountability and illustrates a failure to protect a vulnerable property owner from substantial harm.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “‘Yes I pulled down my half of a semi-detached home… but I’m no neighbour from hell’: Carpenter who left the UK after illegally demolishing house insists he did nothing wrong”.