Brent Council is drawing up plans to crackdown on ‘beds in sheds’ – outbuildings in residential gardens rented out in contravention of planning rules.
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The council wants to tackle the plight of potentially large numbers of people who are exploited by illegal landlords and rent poor quality, unsuitable accommodation.
Some could be involved in illegal activities while others are unable to claim the support and services they need, it is feared.
The exact size of the problem is hidden because the tenants avoid interacting with the authorities but Brent is thought to be one of the worst affected boroughs in the country.
The council was granted £163,745 by the Government in June to investigate the scale of the problem and address it and plans to begin work next month.
It is considering a series of measures including:
- working with other councils and agencies to adopt best practise such as infra-red equipment, which has been used by other authorities in the UK to identify people living in ‘beds in sheds’
- targeting problem streets
- the use of additional planning powers to limit the size of garden outbuildings in hotspots.
The council would also work with partners to ensure the vulnerable people and children are supported.
It expects to quadruple the amount of enforcement action it takes against illegal landlords by next year.
Brent Council has served up to 28 planning enforcement notices for each of the last three years in cases where buildings were being lived in, breaching planning rules. Often, the problem is only solved after legal action to demolish the outbuildings.
Councillor George Crane, Brent Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects said: “Brent Council is already one of the best in the country at tackling ‘beds in sheds’ but the grant will enable us to take systematic action on a much bigger scale.
“We want housing for people living locally to be of a good quality and to prevent local areas going into decline because of the proliferation of large garden outbuildings used for rental.
“These people are hidden from view because they are often sworn to secrecy. This includes vulnerable people needing our help and support, so we will go about this carefully.”
The council is still drawing up an action plan but anticipates carrying out research in August 2012 before a pilot project blitz in one ward at the end of this year, followed by wider action early next year.
The outbuildings rented out are often unsafe and insecure with issues like poor drainage and no insulation. Illegal landlords can also make unauthorised use of the house itself and have recently started using vacant commercial premises.
It is thought that many tenants may not be on the electoral role or pay council tax and some may be in the country illegally.
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