Hillingdon Council has used new powers for the first time to demolish an unauthorised flat and 'bed in shed' in Hayes.
The borough took legal action against Mohinder Singh and his son, Balwant Singh Bassi, who they said had conspired to conceal the unauthorised developments, which did not have planning permission, at a property in Crane Gardens.
The pair were found to have deliberately concealed an unauthorised flat in the main house and a ‘bed in shed’ in the garden, which they rented out to tenants, following an investigation by the council.
And the local authority used new legal powers to obtain an enforcement order from the magistrates' court requiring the demolition of the illegal dwellings, despite them being over four-years-old, which previously would have meant they were exempt.
Cllr Keith Burrows, cabinet member for planning, transport and recycling, said: “This is the first time that Hillingdon Council has used this legislation and we have achieved a great result.
“These two rogue landlords had no alternative but to demolish their flat and ‘bed in shed’ and suffered a significant financial penalty too.
"The council’s success serves as a warning to all those who build unauthorised developments and conceal their intentions – even if outbuildings are over four years old, we still have the power to come after you.”
Singh and Bassi were fined £2,500 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £912 at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, the council said, because they had provided false information in an attempt to deliberately conceal the unauthorised outbuilding and ‘bed in shed’.
After being served with the fine and enforcement notices, the father and son had no option but to demolish the ‘bed in shed’ and remove the flat from the house in order to achieve compliance with the enforcement notices, the local authority added.
Following the court hearing at the end of April, council officers visited the property in May to confirmed the necessary work had been done.
