A landlord who was letting out three self contained outbuildings at the back of a house in Hounslow has been fined almost £6,500 following a prosecution by Hounslow Council.
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Baljit Singh Jhawer, of Martindale Road, Hounslow, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice which required him to demolish an illegal extension to a property on Ferndale Avenue, Hounslow West, and cease using an outbuilding as two separate residential units.
Following complaints from local residents and a local councillor, the council issued an enforcement notice in May 2009 against a second rear extension and the construction of an outbuilding which was being used as two separate residential units.
Jhawer appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, who upheld the council’s decision, though ruled the outbuilding could remain, but was not to be used as accommodation.
In May last year, council officers visited the property and found all three self contained outbuildings were occupied. In one outbuilding a couple and their 8 year old son lived paying £700 per month, and in another, a couple was residing who paid £800 per month. Officers also found a self contained temporary cabin occupied by two people.
Cllr Steve Curran, cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration at the council, said: “This was clearly a case of overdevelopment and these families were living in cramped, poor conditions.
“We won’t allow unscrupulous landlords to ignore an enforcement notice, so I’m pleased the prosecution was successful.”
Jhawer was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,492, along with a victim surcharge of £120 at Feltham Magistrates Court, and must remove the kitchen and bathroom facilities in the outbuildings. The court reinforced the point that if Jhawer failed to comply with the enforcement notice, the council may bring him back to court for the same offence again.
