A dawn raid on a house in Kingsbury has found 35 men bedding down on mattresses in every room except the bathroom.
Brent enforcement officers and police entered the converted three-bedroom semi-detached house, in Winchester Avenue, just before 6am on Tuesday after neighbours complained about overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.
Eight men were found sleeping in one of the rooms that was decked wall to wall with mattresses.
Another mattress was found laid out under a canopy in the back garden with no protection against the night temperatures.
People were also sleeping in the kitchen.
An investigation is under way to track down the landlord of the unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO).
Brent Council have introduced new civil penalty measures to fine rogue landlords up to £30,000 for housing law breaches, such as renting out unlicensed properties.
Under the new measures, voted in at a meeting on September 11, landlords who break the law will be issued with a civil penalty and given 28 days to pay.
A 20 per cent reduction will be offered to landlords who pay within 28 days.
Those who don’t pay in time will have to pay the full amount or face County Court proceedings.
Cllr Harbi Farah, cabinet member for housing and welfare reform, said: “Rogue landlords make their money by exploiting people who can least afford it - it’s a shameful practice and this is an especially shocking example. Any landlord treating their tenants unfairly should be in notice - we’re coming for you.”
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