A rogue landlord has been fined nearly £50,000 for housing eight people in an overcrowded “house of horrors” in Wembley.
Eight tenants, including two children under the age of 13, were paying £3,500 to live in a home designed for five people which had a rat infestation, leak and broken toilet.
Willesden Magistrates Court has ordered Sanjay Patel to pay £49,495 for breaches of the Housing Act at the two-storey home he managed in Vivian Avenue.
The court heard how faulty doors, mould, blocked hallways and a general state of disrepair at the home showed Mr Patel was failing his tenants by breaching housing legislation.
Brent officers raided the property after a tenant reported a number of serious issues with the property.
They found eight people crammed into the house with facilities only fit for a maximum of five people.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said: “This case shows how seriously we pursue landlords who try to exploit tenants in Brent. We won’t let rogue landlords deny renters their right to live in safe, decent and secure homes.
“Every rental property in Brent needs a licence to comply with the law. Landlords still operating without a licence in Brent should apply online today in order to avoid a knock on the door by our enforcement offers. Don’t get caught out, get licensed.”
Work to repair the property is now underway following Brent Council’s intervention.
Landlords who don’t have a licence face hefty fines or prosecution, the council has said.
Borough-wide licensing in Brent has been the law since April 2024. All landlords renting out properties in Brent, except Wembley Park, need a license.
