"Hefty" fines issued to rogue landlords in Brent have crossed the £500,000 mark as the council vows to keep up its zero tolerance approach.

Landlords breaching the law on private lettings have been handed more than £500,000 in fines since January 2016 after 44 prosecutions led to 89 convictions related to licensing and housing management charges.

Spencer Randolph, head of private housing services in Brent, said: "The half a million pound landmark sends a clear message to landlords in Brent.

“If you don't have the correct license, you will face hefty fines and a criminal record in court.

“We are especially targeting our enforcement activity on Houses in Multiple Occupation, so if you're a landlord letting a property to three or more people and they are not all related you need to get the property licenced quickly before you feel the full force of the law."

He added: "Our aim is to improve the living standards for tenants in Brent who are renting private accommodation and this means taking a zero-tolerance approach to rogue landlords who ignore the laws.

"No renter in Brent should be forced to put up with cramped, hazardous and unhygienic conditions. Residents who report their landlords can do so anonymously."

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android.