Judge orders landlord to pay £200k-plus after planning breaches

A landlord has been ordered to pay more than £200,000 after he was prosecuted by a London council for planning breaches.

Michael Aslam of Reading had been ordered by officers at Hillingdon Council to demolish a property he owned in Sipson which had been occupied as a ‘bed in shed’.

The local authority also said the defendant had used the house and a neighbouring property as a hotel without permission.

Aslam failed to comply with an order to stop and was subsequently prosecuted by Hillingdon.

The defendant pleaded guilty at a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court to two offences of breaching planning enforcement notices.

The case was then transferred to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing.

Aslam was fined £7,500 for each of the two offences of breaching planning enforcement notices. The £15,000 is to be paid within six months, or he will have to serve 12 months’ imprisonment in default.

The Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation hearing saw the judge also order Aslam to pay back £170,000 in full within six months, or face 30 months’ imprisonment in default. This sum will be split between Hillingdon, HM Treasury and the Courts and Tribunals Service.

Aslam was additionally ordered to pay the council's legal costs in the sum of £17,676 within six months.

Cllr Keith Burrows, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling at Hillingdon, said: "This is a great courtroom victory for the council and I am delighted that the judge has recognised how much work and effort has gone into this case. It is totally unacceptable for rogue landlords to line their pockets with ill-gotten gains and allow families to live in poor conditions.

“I hope this sends out a clear message that Hillingdon Council does not tolerate this behaviour and we will take action against those who do not comply with planning laws."