Source Brent Council: Whopping fine for rogue landlord | Brent Council

A landlord has been slapped with a fine totalling over £33k after a court found him guilty of licensing breaches.

Housing enforcement officers visited the house following a tip-off about overcrowding at the address. The officers found a series of safety breaches inside, such as a covered up smoke alarm and a broken fire door.

Jaydipkumar Valand illegally sublet a 7 Bedroom bedroom property in Wembley Hill Road, Wembley, cramming 14 tenants inside, including three children.

Brent Council’s legal and Private Housing Service team prepared the case against Mr Valand and on Thursday 20 January 2022, a Judge at Willesden Magistrates Court ordered Mr Valand to pay £33,347.50 in fines and costs by the end of June this year (paid in full within 6 months).

Judge Michael Oliver told Mr Valand: “Your naked greed exposed the tenants to loss of life. If there was a fire, there was a risk that people could have lost their life. Your desire to profit at the cost of others is unconscionable.”

“Everyone is entitled to live in a fairer, more equal Brent. We will find and prosecute landlords like Mr Valand who exploit tenants for their own financial gain.”

Cllr Eleanor Southwood,

Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform

Brent has a zero tolerance policy towards rogue landlords. If you suspect that someone is renting out an unlicensed property in Brent, or breaking licensing laws, you can
report your concern anonymously online.