When Iya Patarkatsishvili and her husband, Dr. Yevhen Hunyak, purchased a stunning £32.5 million mansion in London, they thought they had found their dream home.

Nestled in the heart of Notting Hill, the luxurious Horbury Villa boasted everything one could desire—a pool, a spa, a gym, a library, a wine room, and even a special “snoring room” for peaceful sleep.

However, their dream quickly turned into a nightmare when they discovered an unexpected and unwelcome feature: millions of moths swarming throughout their new home.

The Battle Against the Moth Invasion

Just days after moving in, the couple noticed a moth flying around.

What started as a minor inconvenience soon spiraled into a full-blown infestation.

Moths were everywhere—ruining expensive clothes, contaminating food, and even landing on their children’s toothbrushes.

The situation became so severe that they had to set up 400 traps just to contain the pests.

It wasn’t long before they realized they had been sold a property with a hidden, serious problem.

Taking the Developer to Court

Determined to seek justice, Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak sued high-end property developer William Woodward-Fisher, claiming he had failed to disclose the infestation before selling the house.

The case was brought to the High Court, where they argued that the developer had given false information in pre-sale documents, denying any knowledge of vermin or hidden defects.

Woodward-Fisher, a former champion rower, had reportedly known about the moth problem but chose to brush it under the rug.

According to court documents, he was warned by pest control specialists that the only way to fix the issue was to remove the wool insulation throughout the house—an extensive and costly process.

Instead of taking action, he decided to proceed with the sale, hoping the problem would go unnoticed by the new buyers.

The Court’s Verdict

After reviewing the evidence, the High Court ruled in favor of Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak. Judge Justice Fancourt found that Woodward-Fisher had provided “false” answers in the pre-sale documents and had failed to “honestly disclose” the infestation.

While the judge did not believe the developer had set out to intentionally deceive the buyers, it was clear that he had ignored the problem in an attempt to finalize the sale.

As a result, the court ordered the sale to be reversed, requiring Woodward-Fisher to return the £32.5 million purchase price to the couple.

However, since they had lived in the house for several years, the amount was reduced by £6 million.

In addition, they were awarded £4 million in damages, covering costs such as the £3.7 million they had paid in Stamp Duty and £15,000 for ruined clothing.

The Aftermath and Future Implications

The ruling means Woodward-Fisher will now have to put the property back on the market and use the proceeds to reimburse the couple.

The case also raises questions about property disclosure laws, particularly when it comes to infestations.

The judge clarified that minor moth sightings do not need to be disclosed during a property sale, but in cases of extreme infestations like this one, sellers must be upfront about the issue.

For Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak, the victory is a bittersweet one.

While they will get most of their money back, the ordeal has been an exhausting and frustrating battle.

Their experience serves as a cautionary tale for luxury home buyers—even in the most high-end properties, hidden problems can turn a dream home into a living nightmare.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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