A landlord was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to pay £200,000 fine of face a penal sentence. He pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to take any action when he had received planning enforcement notices.

On the first count, the landlord admitted not following the council order to pull down an outbuilding at his property which a tenant was living in and was in fact a " bed in a shed ".

The second offence that he had committed, was illegally using the house and a property next door as a hotel without applying for and being granted permission. He had been ordered to stop from immediate affect.

The landlord failed to act on the notices and continued accruing income from the illegal practices.

Attending the confiscation and sentencing hearing he was fined £7,500 for each of the two offences that breached the planning enforcement  and was told in no uncertain terms, that failure to pay the £15,000 fine within a period of six months would mean that he would serve a 12 month prison sentence.

The judge also invoked the  Proceeds of Crime Act, and ordered that he must pay back £170,000 in full within six months, or serve a 30 months incarceration. The fines would be awarded to the council, Courts and Tribunal Service and the HM Treasury.

On top of those considerable sums of monies that  must be paid back, he was also given a further order to pay the council’s legal costs which came to £17,676 ,again within the period of six months.

Judge HHJ McDowall concluded at the close of the hearing : “I must give credit to the council officers who have done an excellent job in seeing that the law is complied with.”

Councillor Keith Burrows said: “This is a great courtroom victory for the council and I am delighted that the judge has recognised how much work and effort has gone into this case. It is totally unacceptable for rogue landlords to line their pockets with ill-gotten gains and allow families to live in poor conditions.

"I hope this sends out a clear message that Hillingdon Council does not tolerate this behaviour and we will take action against those who do not comply with planning laws.”