From illegal extensions to an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), to running a business without the correct permission, the Planning Enforcement Team at Barking and Dagenham had a big day in court in the last month.

Four cases went to Barkingside Magistrates Court on Thursday 23 April and the results are out:

No skipping that fine – Skip Hire company found guilty

In March 2021, the director of K & J Skip Hire, Kamaljit Singh, was found to be operating a waste processing business in Whalebone Lane North, Dagenham without the correct permissions.

Mr Singh was visited and made aware of the issue and did eventually put in a planning application on 20 May 2021, however this was returned as invalid on 12 July 2021.

An enforcement notice was served on 30 July 2021 preventing the land to be used for this type of business.

Officers revisited the site in January 2023 and discovered there still to be skips full of waste.

Mr Singh pleaded guilty int court and was ordered to pay a fine of £576, costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £300 and a Victim Surcharge of £58, totalling £934. The company was also fined £1,152, costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £367 and a Victim Surcharge of £115, totalling £1,634.50.

Illegal rear extension costs Dagenham lady over £1,500

Planning Enforcement Officers from Barking and Dagenham Council visited a property in August 2021 after receiving a complaint about a rear extension. 

On visiting, the officer informed the owner of the property, Ms Donna Davis, that it exceeded the size allowed and planning permission was required.

Ms Davis made a Planning Application, which was refused in October 2021. She then appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, and this was also refused in March 2022.

An Enforcement Notice was issued to Ms Davis of West Road, Chadwell Heath in December 2021 to remove the extension and consequential waste.

Once again appeals were made to the council and Planning Inspectorate, which were both refused. The extension had to be removed by 27 June 2023.

However, in September 2023 during a visit to the property, it was discovered that the extension remained, and Ms Davis was summoned to court. 

Ms Davis pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of the Enforcement Notice and was ordered to pay a £430 fine, Costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £561.50 and a Victim Surcharge of £172, totalling £1,163.50.

Costly conservatory for homeowner

Following a complaint from a resident in September 2020 about building works on a property in Downing Road, the owner has been fined over £1,600.

A Planning Enforcement Officer visited the property and found that there was an extension and a further conservatory style structure.

The officer informed the owner Mr Alok Saha and that planning permission was required for the additional structure and was reminded several times over the coming months.

However, no application was made and on 26 Aprill 2022 an Enforcement Notice was issued requiring the unauthorised extension to be removed.

The officer revisited the property in January 2023 and found that the structure was still there.

Saha and Misty were summoned to court where they pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of the Enforcement Notice and Mr Saha was ordered to pay a fine of £768, Costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £588.50 and a Victim Surcharge of £307, totalling £1,663.50.

The case against Snigdha Misty was withdrawn.

Landlord and managing agent fined over thousands for illegal HMO

The owner of a property on Bastable Avenue, Barking, which was being used as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without the correct permissions has pleaded guilty in court.

In August 2021, the property was identified as being used as a HMO illegally and had been sub-divided to form two separate units of accommodation.

A letter was sent to the owner, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, outlining the breach of planning regulations and requiring a response from the Managing Agent Maria Opaniran.

Two Enforcement Notices were issued to both parties on 4 January 2023 as no changes had been made, neither was a planning application made. The Notices required the cessation of the HMO and removal of the subdivision.

In September 2023 a further visit found that the property was no longer sub-divided but was still being used as a HMO

The case was taken to court where both pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay:

Mohammed Ahmed: Fine of £1,061, Costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £614 and a Victim Surcharge of £424, totalling £2,199

Maria Opaniran: Fine of £715, Costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £614 and a Victim Surcharge of £286, totalling £1,615.