Rogue landlords from Neasden ordered to pay back £322,282 or face prison after converting two houses into 18 flats
The property in Glynfield Road. - Credit: Archant
Rogue landlords who converted two terrace houses into 18 illegal, tiny flats have been ordered to pay back £322,282 or face prison.
The bathroom in the Belton Road flat. - Credit: Archant
Husband and wife Mohammad Ishaq, 68, and Shamim Akhtar, 66, were prosecuted by Brent Council over the two properties in Willesden and Harlesden.
The couple, of Clifford Way, Neasden, admitted the planning offences at Willesden Magistrates’ Court in and were given the confiscation order at Harrown Crown Court on Wednesday.
On top of the order, they were each made to pay £10,000 for failing to comply with planning enforcement notices, and also stump up for the council’s legal fees.
They have 12 weeks to pay unless they can convince the court to give them an extension. The judge specified that failure to pay the sum would lead to imprisonment for two years.
The flat in Belton Road. - Credit: Archant
You may also want to watch:
The homes in Glynfield Road and Belton Road had been converted without planning permission into 10 and eight flats respectively. After losing appeals they had to undo the work. But they ignored numerous written warnings for several years.
Sentencing them, the judge said: “I hope we can draw a line under this. As you’ll continue to be landlords, I hope you now understand the importance of providing good quality properties.”
Most Read
- 1 Two men charged with murder in connection with missing pensioner with links to Willesden
- 2 Landlord faces jail if he tries to evict Kilburn tenants
- 3 QPR boss Warburton pleased with performance in Leicester draw
- 4 Tube strike suspended to allow for further talks
- 5 Officer's leg broken after e-scooter rider fails to stop, say police
- 6 Diamond thief prepared for £4.2m heist at Cricklewood hotel
- 7 Teenager jailed for murder of Jamalie Maleek in Northwick Park
- 8 Man charged with indecent exposure and voyeurism in West Hampstead
- 9 Traffic disruption in Brent from August 2-8
- 10 Petition launched to declare Brent a Right To Food borough
Brent’s community safety chief Cllr Tom Miller said: “These individuals showed a blatant disregard for planning rules by renting out shoddy accommodation and have now paid the price.
“Once again, Brent has shown that ignoring enforcement notices simply doesn’t pay.”
The result comes just a few weeks after a record £1.4 million confiscation order was made against a different landlord in the same court, also for planning offences.
