A slum landlord who was caught TWICE renting out substandard flats within two properties he illegally converted in Brent has been ordered to pay more than £200,000.

Vijay Kara rented out the poor quality accommodation in a former business unit in an industrial estate off the North Circular Road, and a house in Strode Road, Willesden, despite being convicted of the same offence in 2009.

Harrow Crown Court heard he ignored two separate enforcement notices from Brent Council ordering him to convert the properties back to their original condition.

He had previously been convicted of failing to comply with the notices and last week he was back in court for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Kara was ordered to pay £187,600 for both properties, fined £10,000 and must pay costs of £10,000.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, lead member for housing and development at Brent Council, said: “It’s staggering that Mr Kara thought that he could get away with letting out illegal sub-standard accommodation, despite a conviction for the same offence in 2009.

“Thanks to our hard working enforcement team, he has been caught out again and landed with a hefty bill.

“It is so important for planning rules to be upheld, not just to protect what our streets look like, but to protect tenants from poor standard accommodation.”