Ex-Citibank executive takes builders to court over £3m home defects

A former Citibank executive and her husband are taking legal action against builders over claims their £3 million Surrey home was so poorly constructed it is uninhabitable.

Lisa and Tim Klaver have filed a High Court claim against North Downs Construction, alleging 69 separate defects in the property near Farnham. Problems are said to include issues with timber cladding, the terrace, balcony, roof, external walls, windows, doors, basement tanking, and structural steelwork.

According to the claim, independent builders have warned the couple the house may need to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch at a cost of around £3.4 million. The Klavers are seeking more than £3 million in damages, plus compensation for distress, inconvenience, and loss of amenity.

Work on the property began in July 2021, and the couple moved in a year later, by which time they had already paid £836,000 of the builder's bill. Their architect soon flagged defects, starting with timber cladding that allegedly failed to meet contract standards. Further disputes led the Klavers to withhold a payment in July 2022.

Court papers state that North Downs Construction, led by Vernon Blake, warned it would leave the site if not paid immediately — and then withdrew. No further work has been carried out since. The couple say the company failed to take adequate remedial action before they terminated the contract in April 2023.

They also claim the builder missed the agreed 50-week completion deadline and never sought an extension. Later in 2022, rain and floodwater entered the house. While North Downs is said to have accepted some defects and suggested fixes, the couple allege it ignored serious structural problems.

The Klavers insist redesigning or funding the remedial works is not their responsibility, and accuse the firm of refusing to cover the costs. Neither party commented when approached by the Daily Mail, which reports that North Downs is expected to defend the claim.

Broadgate Legal