A former Goldman Sachs banker must pay nearly £200,000 following a court ruling over a prolonged renovation of her £1.6 million Knightsbridge flat that damaged her neighbors’ property below.
The Renovation Dispute in Luxury Knightsbridge
Leda Sara, 50, an interior designer and estate agent serving high-net-worth clients, purchased her flat in a Grade II-listed building on Lennox Gardens for £1.6 million in 2014. She launched an extensive refurbishment, stripping the property to its core by removing furniture, kitchen, bathroom, partition walls, and a lowered ceiling.
Neighbors Samuel Wagner, a Swedish property firm executive, and his wife Jennifer, owners of a £1.4 million flat directly below, endured significant disruptions from the five-year project. They reported relentless dust infiltrating through windows, ceiling cracks, and communal areas, preventing them from hanging laundry indoors. The work also caused excessive heat loss, cracks from constant banging, and vermin including pigeons roosting in the empty upper flat.
Delays, Leaks, and Property Damage
The project violated a lease restriction requiring freeholder approval, halting work until a license was secured. Resuming in March 2018, it was supposed to finish within eight months but dragged on until April 2019. Post-completion leaks from a defective shower tray and sprinkler system caused severe water damage, culminating in the collapse of the Wagners’ ceiling after damp patches appeared.
The couple vacated their home three times—once during initial works and twice more in 2019 and 2020 due to the leaks. They claimed the disruptions, including a failed flat sale costing £60,000, stemmed from Sara’s negligence in managing contractors and timelines.
Court Ruling Holds Sara Liable for Nuisance
At Mayor’s and City County Court, Judge Stephen Hellman ruled in the Wagners’ favor, awarding £41,332 in damages for annoyance, inconvenience, discomfort, and anxiety caused by the extended works.
The judge cleared Sara of responsibility for the leaks, noting she promptly notified contractors and instructed her tenant to avoid using the shower. He also dismissed the lost sale claim, finding no obligation for her to certify leak repairs.
However, Hellman held Sara accountable for starting without authorization, leading to a lengthy pause with the flat left as an unfinished shell—a direct nuisance. He stated: ‘The defendant should have obtained a licence before the works commenced. Had she done so, no pause would have been necessary.’
She must pay 80% of the Wagners’ legal costs—£91,000 upfront toward a £150,000 total—plus her own fees, bringing her overall liability close to £200,000.
Lennox Gardens features properties valued up to £40 million in a historic area built around 1886, centered on former cricket grounds.
