‘Enough is enough’ is the rallying cry of one councillor who is fed up with landlords hiding behind an ‘insane’ law which allows them to proliferate the problem of beds in sheds.
The Harrow Observer polled readers on whether they felt enough was being done to tackle rogue landlords overcrowding properties to maximise the amount of rent they can make, and a resounding 98 per cent said ‘no’.
Bill Phillips, Labour’s Greenhill ward councillor, has warned the Observer that planning legislation allows landlords to apply for lawful development certificates which, after four years, legitimise any indiscretions such as renting outbuildings without the proper permissions.
Mr Phillips said: "The law says that if you break the law but get away with it for four years, you are legitimised by the law. That’s insane. We need to spend more on enforcement."
Our readers poll followed a story we published in August about a landlord’s successful application for a certificate of lawful use in Hindes Road, within Mr Phillips’ ward. The landlord, Mohammed Lalji, was renting a garden shed to a tenant as a living space without the correct planning permission but received consent because more than four years had passed.
A similar incident arose in Sheepcote Road over seven flats in a semi-detached house and Mr Phillips is pleading with Observer readers who voted in our poll to take a stand against the law.
“If we see this is happening, it needs to be addressed now and not left four years so landlords get away with it,” he said.
“Those 98 per cent who said that not enough was done can write to their MPs and to Eric Pickles, he is the responsible minister for this and it is up to him to solve this problem. People also need to write to their council, to their councillors and if they do not respond, write to me.”
Conservative council leader and cabinet member for community safety and environment, councillor Susan Hall, told the Observer that not enough has been done in the past three years, but the work starts now.
She said: “Beds in sheds is an illegal and frequently unsafe practice which exploits those who are duped into living in these circumstances.
“Other boroughs have the same problem, but in Harrow we will go further. The council is working with police and fire to put together the most detailed data yet on which areas are worst affected. You can expect concerted local authority and police action.”
What do you think should be done to address the problem of overcrowded properties? Post your comments below.
