A rogue landlord has been banned from letting or managing housing in England for five years following successful enforcement action.

Sanjay Patel, who lives in Harrow, crammed more than 18 people into a house licensed for a maximum of seven. 

Brent council found four people sharing a single attic room, locked windows that could not be opened, and faulty smoke alarms throughout his rental property in Wembley.

The most serious conditions were found in an undeclared outbuilding, where a couple and their four-month-old baby were living without heating or electricity. 

The family was referred to Brent council for immediate support.

Willesden Magistrates fined Patel £87,000 in March for housing breaches and ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £2,788 in prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £91,788.

A tribunal has now issued an order banning him from letting housing and carrying out letting agency or property management work for five years.

The banning order also follows a £50,000 fine issued to Patel in 2024 for housing offences he committed at a rental property in Wembley.

After tenants reported a rat infestation, leaks and a broken toilet, council enforcement officers found eight people, including two children, living in a house only suitable for five people, with mould, faulty doors, blocked hallways and serious disrepair throughout.

A council spokesperson says: “This banning order sends a clear message that Brent does not tolerate landlords who put profit before people’s safety.

“Every resident deserves a safe and secure home. The council will continue using the strongest enforcement powers available to protect tenants and hold rogue landlords to account.”