A landlord who illegally turned his garage in Brent into "substandard flats" has been ordered to pay £128,141.
Amir Golesorkhi turned his garage into two small flats and had been renting them out for seven years while living in the main house with his wife in Ridge Close, Colindale.
He housed at least two tenants at a time in the poor quality flats up until late 2016 despite the notice from the council, before being fined £12,000 on Friday July 28 and ordered to pay £116,141 in confiscation proceedings.
Rogue landlords
Planning enforcement and Trading Standards officers described the flats as "not particularly nice places to live, especially as access was down a narrow, overshadowed alley via a side door".
The confiscation order was given under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the money that Mr Golesorkhi made as a result of failing to comply with Brent Council's enforcement notice.
Cllr Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, said: "This is a victory for Brent residents.
"Housing tenants in poor conditions is unacceptable and rogue landlords will pay heavily out of their pockets if they do so.
"Brent Council is committed to protecting renters from landlords who exploit people in the private rented sector for a quick buck.
"Overcrowding, poor safety in the home, micro flats and unlicensed properties are issues that we take very seriously."
Golesorkhi pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court of breaching a planning enforcement notice served by Brent Council in April 2008.
He had been charged with failure to comply with the planning enforcement notice issued by Brent Council contrary to section 179(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.
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