A private landlord operating an unlicensed and overcrowded property in London has been hit with a fine of more than £21,000. 

The property was the subject of numerous complaints from neighbours concerning anti-social behaviour at the unlicensed HMO in Brent.

The local council’s Private Housing Services Team sent several letters to landlord Muhammad Ilyas asking him to take the appropriate action concerning the property and his tenants.

Following a visit to the property in June 2019, officers advised Ilyas to apply for an appropriate property licence. He failed to do so. 

At the same time, council officers provided advice to the tenants on what options were available to them, should the landlord decide to evict them,

Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard the case, where Ilyas pleaded guilty to five separate offences. The court fined him a total of £21,115.50, including a prosecutions cost of £3,925.00 and a victim surcharge of £190. 

The magistrate stated the duration of the different offences, the vulnerable people in the property, and the amount of money Ilyas had made, were all aggravating factors. 

A council spokeswoman says: “This should serve as a reminder to private landlords who think they can operate unlicensed and overcrowded properties without any consequences. Sadly, it has proved an expensive lesson for the landlord concerned in this particular case. He did, however, continually ignore all the advice, help and warnings given to him.

“I’m pleased the Magistrates’ Court recognised the seriousness of the offences and that Mr Ilyas’ neighbours will no longer have to put up with the constant anti-social behaviour and noise from this property.”