6:02 pm - February 12, 2025
The Tale of Horbury Villa: A Mansion Marred by Moths
A Grand Facade with a Hidden Nightmare
Horbury Villa, a stunning Victorian mansion nestled on a quiet, leafy street just outside Notting Hill in northwest London, seemed like the epitome of luxury and perfection. With its grand architecture, sprawling spaces, and high-end amenities—including a pool, spa, gym, cinema, and wine room—it was the ultimate dream home for anyone fortunate enough to afford it. However, behind its picturesque façade, the house harbored a secret that would soon turn the lives of its new owners upside down: a relentless infestation of clothes moths. The insects had taken up residence in the insulation, and their presence would prove to be a nightmare for the unsuspecting buyers.
A Multi-Million Dollar Purchase Turns Sour
In May 2019, Iya Patarkatsishvili and her husband Yevhen Hunyak finalized the purchase of Horbury Villa for a whopping £32.5 million (approximately $40.2 million). Iya, the daughter of a Georgian billionaire, and her husband were no doubt excited to start their new life in this magnificent home. But their excitement was short-lived. Shortly after moving in, they began to notice something was amiss. Moths were everywhere—on their toothbrushes, towels, and even wine glasses. The insects had also wreaked havoc on their clothing, forcing the couple to discard some of their belongings. At one point, Hunyak revealed that he was killing between 10 and 35 moths every single day, a staggering number that spoke to the severity of the infestation. Their family members and cleaners joined in the battle, but it was a fight they couldn’t win.
A Seller’s Deception Unveiled
The couple’s ordeal took a dramatic turn when they discovered that the previous owner, William Woodward-Fisher, had knowingly concealed the moth infestation before the sale. Woodward-Fisher, a surveyor and residential real estate developer, had apparently made “fraudulent misrepresentations” to the couple, assuring them that there were no vermin infestations or hidden defects in the property. This deceit was revealed in a court judgment published on Monday, which found in favor of Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak. The judge, Mr. Justice Fancourt, ruled that Woodward-Fisher had deliberately concealed the issue, even though his wife had noticed the problem as early as 2018, after new insulation was installed during major renovations. Emails about the infestation had been exchanged between Woodward-Fisher and his wife, but this information was never disclosed to the buyers.
Justice Served: A Victory for the Buyers
The court’s ruling was a significant victory for Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak. Mr. Justice Fancourt ordered that the couple could return the house and retrieve most of their money, minus a portion to account for the time they had lived there. Additionally, they were awarded “substantial damages” to cover the costs of their efforts to eradicate the moths, as well as all legal expenses incurred during the case. While Woodward-Fisher was found guilty of deceit, the judge also noted that he did not believe the seller had acted with malicious intent. Instead, Woodward-Fisher had simply wanted to sell the property and move on, perhaps hoping that the problem would resolve itself or remain unnoticed. Unfortunately for him, the moths had other plans.
The Aftermath: Lessons Learned
The case of Horbury Villa serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency in real estate transactions. For the buyers, the experience was no doubt traumatic, as their dream home turned into a battleground against an infestation that seemed impossible to control. While the financial compensation and the ability to walk away from the property offer some measure of relief, the emotional toll of such an ordeal should not be underestimated. For sellers, the case is a cautionary tale about the dangers of withholding information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Honesty, it seems, is always the best policy—especially when it comes to multi-million-dollar investments.
A Bittersweet Ending
In the end, Patarkatsishvili and Hunyak can take some solace in the fact that justice was served, and they will not be left financially ruined by their ill-fated purchase. However, their story also raises questions about the broader real estate market and the measures in place to protect buyers from such issues. As for Horbury Villa, its future remains uncertain. Will it find new owners willing to take on the challenge of its moth-infested insulation, or will it stand as a testament to the importance of due diligence? Only time will tell. For now, the tale of this troubled mansion serves as a reminder that even the most luxurious of homes can harbor unexpected—and unwelcome—secrets.