A HOMEOWNER has been left “devastated” after Kosovan squatters claiming hundreds of pounds of housing benefit each month stripped her Totteridge home bare of even the toilet seat.

Denise Joannides, 56, finally got back into the once “luxurious” Naylor Road house two years after moving out to save cash because of the effects of the recession.

She rented the £500,000 property to a family who were were claiming housing benefit from Barnet Council of £1,150-per-month.

However, when Ms Joannides tried to get them to leave after a year they refused, leading to a 12-month court battle while the family continued to claim housing benefit but did not pay a penny to her in top-up fees they owed.

When they left last Thursday, hours before bailiffs were due to move in, Ms Joannides found furniture, marble flooring, light fittings and appliances were missing. She said it would take at least £50,000 to put her home right.

The devastated costume designer, who counts Dannii and Kylie Minogue among her clients, told the Times Series: “They have lived like animals.

“They have come here and had no respect for this country, its laws or the benefits system. They have destroyed my home and taken so many things.

“It feels like the law has helped them at every turn. Whenever I turned to someone for help, they refused.”

Ms Joannides, who moved into the house in 1988, decided to let it out during the recession to help her make ends meet, and rented it to the family over another couple.

She said when the family moved in they did not seem to understand how luxurious the home, where Ms Joannides liked to entertain, was.

She said: “It has been like a nightmare. When I let the house I did not expect these problems, I trusted the estate agent and the council to protect me.

“They have taken a £3,000 sofa, my double bed, a leather chair and even pipes from under the sink. I don't even know if the insurance will cover the cost.

“I did this to save money in hard times, but these people have cost me thousands and destroyed my family home.”

Paul Shamplina, of Mill Hill-based Landlord Action, which helped Ms Joannides in the eviction process, said the case highlights the need to check tenant references thoroughly.

He added: “There are a lot of good tenants on housing benefit and there are advantages to having them, but in a minority of cases they may not pay the top-up or take things when they leave.”

A statement from Barnet Council said housing benefit claims were “confidential” and landlord tenant disputes are a “matter for the courts”.