YOB THE BUILDER
Builder leaves family-of-six’s £540,000 house in ruins with no roof after row with owner over pay
- By Rob Pattinson
- 12:01, 8 Jun 2021
- Updated: 17:54, 8 Jun 2021
Owner Jay Kurji, 40, hired a construction worker to carry out renovations, including a two-storey extension and enlarged kitchen diner, on his four-bed, in Leicester, in February.
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Architect’s £540,000 house was left in ruins after a furious builder returned to demolish the workCredit: SWNS
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But following the build the worker demanded £3,500 extra cashCredit: SWNS
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Owner Jay Kurji hired the builder to add an extension to his homeCredit: SWNS
But the pair fell out when dad-of-six Mr Kurji refused to pay an additional £3,500 the labourer wanted for the project.
On June 1 the builder was seen destroying the work he had done to the property while Mr Kurji was on holiday with his family 200 miles away.
The builder used machinery to pull down the roof and knock down chunks of wall.
He removed a window then dumped all the brickwork and debris on the stunned family's driveway.
The property has been left roofless and uninhabitable.
Mr Kurji, a Solutions Architect for an IT firm, said: “It’s a nightmare, unfortunately I picked the worst builder in Britain.
“I bought the house last year and employed a builder to start work in February.
“We wanted lots of work doing so it could be our family home for six of us.
“The work included a two-storey extension, a new roof, wiring and we wanted it to be more environmentally-friendly.”
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Mr Kurji believed he had settled the bill and refused to pay any moreCredit: SWNS
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The unnamed builder then returned to the property and demolished the work he had doneCredit: SWNS
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Neighbours were stunned as chunks of the walls and roof were wreckedCredit: SWNS
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The fuming builder then dumped all he debris on the family's driveCredit: SWNS
Mr Kurji said the builder took revenge when he refused to cough up extra money.
He added: “I was on holiday 200 miles away when all the scaffolding was taken down and the house damaged.
“When I called police they told me they couldn’t do anything because it’s a dispute so not a criminal case.
“I’ve emailed Trading Standards but I’m still away so it’s difficult to sort it all out.”
Neighbours living in the street said they “watched in disbelief” as the builders demolished much of the house with a digger.
One said: “There was scaffolding on the house and when it was taken down I did think the work might be done already and the owners might be moving in.
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“I feel badly for the owners, they must be absolutely gutted.”
Mr Kurji bought the property on Guilford Road, Stoneygate, Leicester, last April for £475,000. It is currently valued at more than £500,000.
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: "Police received a report on Tuesday June 1 regarding a dispute over the quality of some building work carried out in Guildford Road, Leicester.
"The caller was advised that the dispute was a civil matter and further advice was issued in relation to who the caller could make contact with to assist with the matter."
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/uknews/15199932/builder-leaves-540000-house-in-ruins-money-row/
