23rd
Aug 2015
Twenty two people, of which four were children, were found by Barking and Dagenham’s inspectors crammed into a terraced property. The tenants were living in the illegally converted property, whose owner had extended the house to accommodate an extra bedroom in the loft and a brick shed in the garden in the rear of the property.
The council has introduced checks on privately rented properties to ensure that conditions are fit for purpose and to expose any rogue landlords.
When dawn raids were carried out by police and council officers, they also encountered another two shocking situations in their operation.
Another property within a mile from terraced house was found to have fifteen tenants, five of which were children, in five rooms within the three bed-roomed property. In an adjacent road the officers found eighteen people including two children, living in a three bed-roomed house claiming to be a six-bed-roomed house.
The three properties contravened health and safety regulations and were classed as extremely hazardous, in one house a row of mattresses were found.
A row of mattresses was found in one of the properties in east London.
Councillor Laila Butt, Barking and Dagenham’s cabinet member for crime and enforcement, said: “It’s unacceptable to have these almost Dickensian conditions in a world class city such as London.”
Adjoining neighbours to all three properties were incredulous that so many people were living next to them, after they had reported their concerns to the council.
One neighbour said: “It’s almost impossible to believe people can be living like that, especially with children”.
She added: “Rent can be expensive but that is just too many people to live in one house. It can’t be safe and it’s a terrible way to live.”
One managing agent said: “I’m absolutely shocked there could be 22 people living there. We had no idea. How would they all have fit? I’ve ever heard of that many people being in a property. We will be looking into it.
“As far as we were aware it was two couples with their children living there. If it’s true and there had been a breach of their lease they will be out.”
Image Sorce: Barking and Dagenham Council
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