Our readers have had a hugely mixed reaction to the news that a Hayes man was fined £8,000 for illegally building a two-storey extension to his house .
Akmal Hussain now has six months to return his house to the way it was after he was taken to court by over the illegal work.
He had failed to get planning permission from Hillingdon Council for his side, rear and loft extension and then failed to remove the additions to the house in Colbrook Close when he was ordered to.
We have rounded up just a few of the varied reactions from getwestlondon readers to the punishment.
One reader has admired the improvements to the house and how the offender renovated the front of the property.
While adding the extension, Mr Hussain changed the colour of the front of the house from what appears to be dark pebbledash to a much brighter cream colour.
He also had skylights added to the front of the house and had new wood-style window frames installed, along with a matching door in a newly constructed porch.
The reader also suggested changing the planning rules in the borough in order to encourage people to improve their homes and “brighten up” Hillingdon.
Lisa Baker agreed that the home had been improved and said it was “such a shame” Mr Hussain did not follow the proper procedure.
However, not everyone was in support of Mr Hussain's breach of planning laws.
Dominic Pritchard commended the council for their work in taking Mr Hussain to court and said it may act as a deterrent to other people considering breaking planning regulations.
A similar comment was made by Pete Brar who said Mr Hussain is now “paying for his stupidity”, and says he shouldn not have broken the law.
According to property website Zoopla, Mr Hussain's house is worth an estimated £462,000 which is up from £318,000 in November 2013.
By comparison, another house in the same street is currently worth around £407,000, an increase from £250,000 in June 2010.
Sarah Mwanza said the rules exist for a reason, and that it is not fair to people who do follow the laws.
Many of our readers agree with the order forcing Hussain to tear down the extension.
Sasha Heath said: “If the building still stands then it doesn't matter about the fine.”
This thought was echoed by many readers including Susan Clifton, who said: “Planning laws are there for a reason. If we all did it the way he has, I'd hate to think of some of the monstrosities that would be built.”
Planning and building breaches can be reported to Hillingdon Council through its website.
Criminal proceedings are not the first port of call for the council, as it is encouraged to resolve the issue by other means first.
But if an enforcement notice is ignored, as in this case, then court action and fines can follow.
Officers will investigate complaints from the public to see if there has been a breach of planning control regulations.
If there appears to have been a breach the council will attempt to stop or remove the unauthorised work.
Colbrook Close is a small dead-end road not far from Asda in Millington Road and around two miles from Hayes Town.
There are 14 semi-detached houses in the road.
A Google Streetview from the road in October 2014 shows Hussain's house in the process of building work.
The new porch had was already installed at the time as had the bulk of the side and loft extension.
Skylights had been fitted and the windows were in the process of being replaced.
The driveway to the house had also been torn up before it was replaced with neat brickwork.
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