Builder leaves family-of-six’s £540,000 house in ruins with no roof after row with owner over pay

By Rob Pattinson

Published: 13:12, 8 Jun 2021

AN architect’s £540,000 house was left in ruins after a furious builder returned to demolish the work he had done after a money row.

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.

Owner Jay Kurji hired a builder to add an extension to his £540,000 homeCredit: SWNS

But following the build the worker demanded £3,500 extra cashCredit: 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.”

Mr Kurji believed he had settled the bill and refused to pay any moreCredit: SWNS

The unnamed builder then returned to the property and demolished the work he had doneCredit: SWNS

Neighbours were stunned as chunks of the walls and roof were wreckedCredit: SWNS

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.