Man's rebuilt £500,000 home branded an 'ugly Grand Designs carbuncle'

Couple’s dream £500,000 home which was demolished by angry builder while they were on holiday in row over money is rebuilt two years later – but branded an ‘ugly Grand Designs carbuncle’ by furious neighbours

• Jay Kurji is rebuilding his Leicester home after a workman tore it down in 2021
• Neighbours described the rebuilt property as an ‘ugly Grand Designs carbuncle’

A couple’s dream home which was rebuilt after an angry workman tore down the property two years ago has been branded an ‘ugly Grand Designs carbuncle’ by fuming neighbours.

The £500,000 property on Guilford Road in Leicester has been restored after it was partially demolished by a builder following a row over money in June 2021.

Owner Jay Kurji told how he fell out with the workman after refusing to pay him an additional £3,500 before it was bulldozed while he was on holiday.

Neighbours say since then their quiet residential street has been turned into a building site as Mr Kurji painstakingly attempted to rebuild his home.

And almost two years later the four-bedroom detached property still remains unfinished – much to the anger of some local residents.

Jay Kurji’s rebuilt home on Guildford Road, Leister, has been described as an ‘ugly Grand Designs carbuncle’ by fuming neighbours.

 Mr Kurji told how he fell out with the workman after refusing to pay him an additional £3,500 before it was bulldozed in July 2021 while he was on holiday

Photographs show how the property has undergone significant renovation work but still remains fenced off surrounded by scaffolding with a skip on the drive.

Other locals say they are unhappy that the design of the new house is not in keeping with other properties and complained it towers over people’s gardens.

One neighbour on the street, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘We felt for him at the time but the work has taken too long and it’s been like living on a building site.

‘What has replaced it is an ugly Grand Designs-style carbuncle, which just looks completely out of place and not in keeping with the area.

‘It towers above other people’s properties and they will be able to see into other people’s gardens.

‘After all the mess we’ve had to put up we’re left with this eyesore monstrosity.’

Another local added: ‘I think it is diabolical and the renovation work has been going on for far too long.

‘We’re unhappy with the design of the new house too as it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the houses on the street.

The house in Stoneygate, Leicester, was left without a roof and scattered with rubble in 2020 after a tradesman decided to undo the work he already carried out. Pictured: Before (left) and after (right)

A neighbour branded the house an eyesore and said it had also ruined the pavement, as work was undertaken to restore it

Mr Kurji, a Solutions Architect for an IT firm, said that after refusing to pay the builder an additional £3,500 in 2020, the man took revenge

The detached property on Guilford Road in Stoneygate, Leicester, wasleft with its roof missing and rubble scattered all around it

‘It’s overpowering compared to the other houses on the street.

‘On the renovation, the owner has gone up another story and if you look at it from the back of the house it’s higher than the rest of the houses and sticks out.

‘The colour also makes it stick out. It is so white and even if it was painted cream, it would have been a lot better.’

Another resident, who also did not want to be named, added: ‘It doesn’t look great and the renovation work has been going on for a very long time.

‘At least in the past five months, the building has finally begun to resemble a house but the scaffolding is all still up.

‘At one point, I know a neighbour told me the owners might be installing a veranda onto the house which many complained about.

‘Because of the height of the house, if a veranda was installed it would mean they would be able to see into people’s houses across the street and no one wanted this.’

Bot other residents praised Mr Kurji for being able to rebuild the property to a good standard following his ordeal with the revenge seeking builder.

A view of the destroyed property on Guilford Road. With debris from the destruction left lying in front of the home

Mr Kurji said he would contact Leicester City Council about the pavement outside the property when he returned from holiday

Another neighbour said: ‘I have met the owner and he is a nice person and I think the house looks nice.

‘I remember a couple of years back that he had problems with his builder and the builder damaged the house but I don’t know if they sorted their issues out or anything more came about this.

‘I know the builder who damaged the house had been hired after being recommended him but a friend but that’s all I know.’

Mr Kurji refused to comment when approached today but said previously: ‘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

‘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.’

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