A father and son from Brent have been successfully prosecuted of converting a property into five flats without applying for permission from the Council.

The duo was convicted at Willesden Magistrates court on 3rd March of this year, for not bothering to apply for planning permission before carrying out the work to a house in Neasden.

The house is a buy-to-let property and they went ahead by building a single story extension onto the back of the house, a rear dormer window and an outbuilding in the back garden. Having made these changes they then converted the house into five flats, and refused to follow the council’s enforcement notice’s orders.

The father and son were both ordered to pay a fine of £6,000 each and a further £613 each for the council’s costs.

Councillor Margaret McLennan, lead member for regeneration and housing at Brent Council said: "Mr Khetani and Mr Patel were not granted planning permission from the council, so decided to carry out construction work regardless. They failed to comply despite numerous warnings.

"As a result, they have built something that hasn't met planning standards and is sub-standard. The court has recognised this and given them a heavy fine to reflect the offence.

"It is not right that tenants live in sub-standard accommodation due to the actions of rogue landlords like Mr Khetani and Mr Patel. It is not right for neighbours to have to tolerate this behaviour either.

"That is why Brent Council takes a robust approach to enforcing planning control".

The pair must now carry out the enforcement notice’s instructions or face more legal action.