A case that has gone on for 13 years has resulted in a Loughton landlord having to pay out tens of thousands of pounds for continuing to ignore enforcement notices.

In 2011, Barking and Dagenham Council’s Enforcement team became aware of a three-bedroom property on Naseby Road, Dagenham that had been unlawfully sub-divided into two self-contained flats.

In January 2012, an Enforcement Notice was issued to the Freeholder of the property, a Mr Robert Vilkas who it was believed was responsible for the conversion. 

However, Mr Vilkas ignored these notices and sold the property to Harleen Sangera in 2012.

In 2017, the council’s newly formed Special Investigations team visited the property and discovered that it was still sub-divided and two families were occupying the flats and paying rent. 

Due to the Covid pandemic and an ongoing civil case, the matter dragged on and the property was later sold to a Mr Amarjit Walia, who turned out to be the partner of Ms Sangera.

Mr Walia, of Garden Way, Loughton, was made aware that the enforcement notice remained in place and that the structural changes still needed to be made and to cease the use and occupancy of the two separate flats.

Planning Enforcement revisited the property in April 2021 and found that not only had the property remained as two flats, but these were also occupied by new tenants. 

As a result, Mr Walia was summoned to Barkingside Magistrates Court on 20 September 2023 where he pleaded guilty and was committed to Snaresbrook Crown Court. 

On the 23 February 2024, Mr Walia was ordered to pay a fine of £26,400 and costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £3,288 to be paid within 12 months.

Additionally, a Confiscation Order was made in the sum of £65,946 with further costs of £3,240. This was to be paid within three months and if not, he would be imprisoned for two years.

The total amount of the financial penalty equals £98,874.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “This case has gone on for a long time and the team have worked really hard to finally get to court and get this result, I must thank them for their persistence.

“Numerous people continued to ignore our requests and enforcement notices and now a very expensive price has to be paid. I hope this sends a strong warning to any landlord who is not following the rules.”

The council is currently consulting on the future of property licensing in the borough and people can take part by heading to the their online consultation portal: Barking and Dagenham Property Licensing Consultation 2024 | One Borough Voice (lbbd.gov.uk)