'My £12,000 scaffolding bill is crazy money'

Hitesh Pujara wearing a cream suit jacket stood in front of scaffolding and road barriers
Image caption,

Hitesh Pujara owns the premises of Jasmine Thai Massage in Saffron Lane

  • Published

A landlord who received a £12,000 invoice for scaffolding after a neighbouring shop was demolished has described the charge as "crazy money".

Hitesh Pujara owns the property that houses Thai Jasmine Massage in Saffron Lane, Leicester, part of a terraced row of properties that was partially torn down after it was deemed "unsafe" by the city council.

Debris from the property fell on the pavement in March and emergency scaffolding was put up while the building was assessed.

A council spokesperson said three of the four affected property owners chose to allow the council to carry out the work on their behalf and were willing to pay the costs, which could be claimed back from their insurance.

Emergency services were called to Saffron Lane on 18 March after the falling debris was reported, and nearby buildings were subsequently evacuated.

The part of the building which housed tanning salon Bronze Boutique was torn down, but two nearby commercial properties were retained after contractors managed to stabilise them.

Scaffolding still remains on part of the building close to where Bronze Boutique stood.

A terraced building with scaffolding on the end and metal wire fences around the site. There are signs diverting pedestrians around the site.
Image caption,

Scaffolding still remains on part of the building in Saffron Lane

Mr Pujara said the other commercial property owners commissioned a structural survey to examine the remainder of the building.

He said he decided to "bite the bullet" and agree to pay for the scaffolding costs.

"There was minor damage and there was nothing on the structural element except they found a few loose bricks on the chimney and they served notices for that," he said.

"But the shock of all this is I've been served a bill for £12,000 just for the scaffolding - and that's my share.

"I'm saying, wait a minute, I didn't cause the accident. Why should I have to pay this?"

Mr Pujara said he had put in a claim against his insurance policy to pay for the scaffolding, but said this would affect his premiums which would "have a knock-on effect".

Waraporn Simpson in her work uniform which is a white tunic with purple trim. She is leaning against her reception counter and a purple wall is behind her.
Image caption,

Waraporn Simpson has been running Thai Jasmine Massage in Saffron Lane for almost six years

Waraporn Simpson, who has run Thai Jasmine Massage since October 2019, had to close her business for three months while structural surveys were done.

The 52-year-old reopened the business in the middle of June but said the experience had been "very difficult", as the closure had not only impacted her financially, but she had also lost self-employed staff.

"When they're gone, they're gone," Ms Simpson said.

"In three months, they have to get a new job elsewhere. When they agree to work elsewhere, they can't come back."

Ms Simpson said customers had now started to come back "but it's not like before".

"It's not even my fault. And now insurance is going up. I just want to cry sometimes," she added.

A city council spokesperson said: "It is the responsibility of the building owners to maintain their properties.

"However, in cases like this when issues such as falling masonry or risk of collapse can pose a danger to public safety, the council has a duty to ensure buildings are made safe as a matter of urgency.

"An immediate inspection was carried out and emergency works identified.

"As this work was dangerous and complicated, three of the four affected property owners chose to allow the council to carry out this work on their behalf and were willing to pay the costs, which could be claimed back from their insurance."

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