A father and son from Kensal Rise who illegally converted a house in Neasden into FIVE substandard flats before renting them out have been heavily fined.
Khimji Ramji Patel and his son Naran Khetani, who both live in Mortimer Road, ignored planning laws and safety regulations to carry out the botch conversion on a property in Prout Grove.
In addition to creating the flats, the pair also built a single-story rear extension, a rear dormer window and an outbuilding in the rear garden without obtaining planning permission from Brent Council.
Willesden Magistrates Court heard they ignored several warnings from the council and snubbed an enforcement order which would have forced them to knock down the illegal structures.
On Tuesday, they were fined £6,000 each and ordered to both pay £613 towards the council’s costs.
Cllr Margaret McLennan, lead member for regeneration and housing at Brent Council, said: “They were not granted planning permission from the council, so decided to carry out construction work regardless and failed to comply despite numerous warnings.
“As a result, they have built something that hasn’t met planning standards and is sub-standard.
“The court has recognised this and given them a heavy fine to reflect the offence.
“It is not right that tenants live in sub-standard accommodation due to the actions of rogue landlords like Mr Khetani and Mr Patel. It is not right for neighbours to have to tolerate this behaviour either.
“That is why Brent Council takes a robust approach to enforcing planning control”.
They must now comply with the enforcement notice or potentially face further action.
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