Council officers discovered 11 people living in a squalid three-bedroom house during a series of dawn raids targeting unlicensed rented properties in Wembley.

The landlord had crammed the tenants into the damp and mouldy property which also had a lack of shared amenities and facilities, unsafe electrics and poor conditions throughout.

Since last year all shared accommodation properties in the borough must be licensed.

Officers took a catalogue of photographs as evidence against the landlord who now faces prosecution for failing to licence the property and for letting out substandard accommodation.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, Brent Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “These types of raids are a wake-up call for rogue landlords in Brent and demonstrate the importance of our landlord licensing scheme.

“Licensing ensures that properties are not overcrowded, are let out to an acceptable standard and are properly managed.

“It also reduces anti-social behaviour and illegally dumped rubbish which can have a significant impact on local neighbourhoods and property prices. Everyone in the borough benefits from licensing.”

Last month the council rolled out eight-week advertising campaign warning unlicensed landlords that they face prosecution.

One advert publicises the case of Gharmesh and Gita Khatri who were given the maximum £20,000 fine for renting out rundown bedsits in Forty Lane, Wembley, without a licence in April.

For more information about applying for a licence visit here.