Planners force landlord to return £42,637 in rent after ‘illegal gains’

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A rogue landlord who created three tiny flats in the basement of one of his properties has been ordered to pay back more than £42,000 in illegal gains.

Mawan Musa, 63, of Maude Road, Camberwell, admitted breaching planning rules at two properties in the same road at the Inner London Crown Court. He was sentenced to pay £42,637 in illegal gains and a further £10,000 in fines and costs.

Southwark Council discovered Musa had created flats in the basement of his property (pictured) to collect rent from three households, instead of one. He had also added a haphazard and sub-standard rear window extension on the roof of another property – neither of which had planning permission.

Prosecution

When the developments weren’t removed, Southwark’s planning enforcement team launched the prosecution.

After reviewing financial investigations carried out by the council’s trading standards team, the court agreed that Musa had illegally gained £42,637 in rent. It heard that both property developments now have planning permission.

Councillor James McAsh (pictured), cabinet member for climate emergency and sustainable development, says this was a shameless attempt to shoehorn three tiny flats into one basement, along with an illegal roof extension.

“This outcome serves as a warning that we will not tolerate planning breaches. It also supports us in cracking down on those who try to benefit from renting illegal and sub-standard properties in Southwark,” says McAsh.

“Everyone deserves a good quality place to live. Planning rules and space standards make sure that new developments are good quality and a decent size.”

Pic credit: Google Streetview

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