A shady landlord in East London was fined over £60,000 for failing to get a permit for a building that was dangerously overcrowded. It was discovered that Ilyas Patel owned a mid-terrace home with 13 occupants on Altmore Avenue in East Ham.

When Environmental Health Officers investigated the home in November 2023, they discovered that at least four unrelated families were living in five of the rooms. There were two families with young children.

The kitchen and bathroom were shared by all 13 residents. Every renter the cops spoke with paid between £600 and £750 per month.

Severe mice infestation found

There was also a severe mice infestation in the house, officers found. Following a hearing at Thames Magistrates Court, Patel was find a total of £64,977.19 including additional costs.

A Newham Council spokesperson said: “This verdict sends a strong message to landlords and managing agents that overcrowded, unsafe, and unlicensed properties will not be accepted in Newham. This prosecution highlights how seriously we take our responsibility to safeguard the well-being of all our residents, ensuring that housing conditions meet legal standards."

The council explained that their housing team uses a proactive approach by actively seeking out hidden Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) every few weeks. They conduct fortnightly operations with the police, using intelligence to identify and inspect properties that fail to meet licensing requirements under all three schemes.