Landlords forfeit rents after illegal conversions

Two landlords in the same London borough have been hit with enormous costs after converting properties into bedsits without planning permission and will have to forfeit their rent.

Hassam Hussain, who converted a maisonette into nine studio flats, was ordered to pay £552,736. The sum includes a confiscation order of £494,314. The figure was held to be the amount of rent he had received as a result of the illegal conversion.

Hussain was also fined £20,000 and ordered to pay Brent Council’s legal costs of £38,422.


The other Brent landlord, John Fearon, was ordered by Harrow Crown Court to pay £235,000.

He had converted a property into 13 bedsits without planning permission.

Brent Council told the court that he had obtained £235,000 by renting out the property in breach of a planning enforcement notice.

Fearon was also fined £10,000 and ordered to pay the council’s legal costs of £32,227.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said: “This sends a clear message that Brent will not allow people to profit from illegal conversions.

“Fearon and Hussain ignored enforcement notices designed to ensure that homes are of a decent standard and that our shared environment is protected.

“They tried to profit from poor quality accommodation which was not suitable to be lived in.

“Brent is one of the leading authorities on using the Proceeds of Crime Act in planning enforcement cases.”