A landlord in north London has been fined £5,000 for housing a mother and child in a “dangerous and illegally built” outbuilding.
The ”bed-in-shed”, which was never approved for residential use, had flammable cladding, no fixed heating or insulation, and damaged electrical sockets.
Despite this, the landlord was using the structure to house the family, in a shocking display of the state of London’s housing and rental crisis.
The mother and child have since been moved to safe accommodation, while the landlord was fined by Harrow Council.
Councillor Pritesh Patel said: “This landlord put lives at risk – and that is simply unacceptable. No one should have to live in unsafe or dangerous conditions.
“Our officers are cracking down on rogue landlords who put profit before people.
“Thanks to joint work with the police, we’ve taken swift enforcement action and ensured the mother and child are now in a safe, suitable home – no longer exposed to these appalling conditions. We’ll continue to put residents and their safety first and bring the law onto anyone else who thinks they can flout the law.”
Officers from the Met Police first raised concerns with the council, who then uncovered a garage being rented out in unsafe and “horrendous conditions”.
Not only was it structurally unsafe but it was riddled with serious health and safety hazards, including DIY electrical wiring and an excessive number of extension leads.
Officers issued an Emergency Prohibition Order, banning anyone from using the outbuilding.
The landlord was also issued with a £5,000 civil penalty for failing to declare the structure as part of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence and for providing false information.
It comes as London is in the grips of one of the worst housebuilding crises since the Second World War, according to a report.
The analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies said fewer new homes were being built in the capital than at any time in the last 80 years.
The shortage of new homes means Londoners are having to pay exorbitant rents, sometimes for just a room in a shared flat or house, or simply are no longer able to afford to live in the capital.
Many Londoners are having to take out hefty mortgages to get on the property ladder or move to a bigger home.
Meanwhile, London’s rental crisis continues to worsen, with soaring rents and a shortage of affordable housing pushing many families into dangerous living conditions.
The capital’s tight market has left tenants vulnerable to illegal properties, while demand far outstrips supply.
Experts say the situation is being driven by high inflation, stagnant wages, and a growing population, which is creating an urgent need for more regulated and affordable housing options.
