Former Chelsea goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini, is being sued by the landlord of his 3million London mews home over converting its roof into a sun terrace. The ex-footballer, 53, is being sued by Haya Property Ltd, the owners of the freehold on his South Kensington mews house, which is now valued at more than 3 million. According to court filings, the landlord claims the former goalkeepers use of the compact rooftop space accessed from the first-floor lounge amounts to trespass and breaches the terms of his lease.
The dispute reportedly began after Cudicini complained about noisy air-conditioning units installed near his bedroom window by Haya Property, prompting tensions between the ex-player and the landlord. The lawsuit now seeks an injunction barring Cudicini from using the terrace, along with compensation of up to 25,000. Cudicinis legal team counters that the outdoor terrace was created in line with planning permission granted by the City of Westminster before he purchased the property in 2006. They say the work was done openly with the knowledge and consent of prior landlords, and Cudicini has used the terrace continuously since about 2008 without issue. During a short pre-trial hearing last week, Cudicini’s barrister Mark Warwick said he had embarked on a refurbishment project after buying the property, including opening up the terrace. The barrister told Judge Olivia-Faith Dobbie at Central London County Court: ‘On 30 June 2006, he purchased the house, with the benefit of the terrace permission, for 1.75 million. ‘In about 2007 to 2008, he had work to the house carried out in accordance with the terrace permission, creating a terrace. ‘The work was carried out openly and with the knowledge and/or consent of the previous landlords.’From about 2008 and thereafter, he has openly used the terrace as part of the house.’ According to council documents, Cudicini also went on to secure planning permission to create a new basement beneath the mews, to include an en suite guest room and TV/play room. However, Cudicini – whose 999-year lease on the house is held at a rate of ‘one red rose per annum if demanded’ – now faces claims of trespass and breach of the lease relating to the terrace. Haya Property is also seeking an injunction barring the alleged misuse of the terrace, plus compensation of up to 25,000.The mews home is now valued online at more than 3million.Cudicini’s lawyers not only say the claim against him having no solid legal basis, but also that it was triggered by his landlords’ over-reaction to him complaining about how they placed noisy air-con units near his bedroom. His KC described the breach allegation as ‘unjustified’, adding: ‘Further and in any event, the allegation was their unjustified riposte to Mr Cudicini’s earlier complaint to the City of Westminster that Haya Property had wrongly placed three noisy air conditioning units next to his master bedroom.’ Mr Warwick told the judge that the 2006 permission granted to a previous owner allowed for the ‘the replacement of a rear first floor window with French doors – and use of flat roof and lightwell as a terrace.’ Cudicini’s case also claims the landlords in place before Haya Property took over the freehold in 2015 were given formal notice of the terrace planning application and agreed to it. In court, his barrister said Cudicini has ‘personal knowledge’ of the history of his house from the date of purchase in 2006 and has carried out further enquiries since the case was launched against him, which enabled him to put together a ‘complete defence’. ‘Since then, he has carried out further historical enquiries’, said Mr Warwick, adding: ‘These produced further documents and a fuller knowledge of the background.’The post Former Chelsea goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini sued by landlord of his 3million London mews home after converting roof into sun terrace appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
