Billionaire Couple Wins Refund for $40M Moth-Infested London Mansion

A UK High Court ruled that the seller misrepresented the property's condition, allowing the buyers to rescind the sale and receive significant damages.

Iya Patarkatsishvili, daughter of a Georgian billionaire, and her husband Yevhen Hunyak purchased the $40.2 million Notting Hill property in May 2019.
Shortly after moving in, the couple discovered a severe moth infestation, with insects nesting in the insulation and damaging clothing, furniture, and other belongings.
The High Court found that the seller, William Woodward-Fisher, failed to disclose the infestation despite being aware of it since 2018, constituting fraudulent misrepresentation.
The court ordered the rescission of the sale, requiring the seller to refund the purchase price minus $7.7 million for the couple's use of the property, along with $5 million in additional damages.
The case serves as a legal precedent for holding sellers accountable for concealing significant defects, according to the couple's legal team.