Proceeds of crime success for Hounslow

A landlord who crammed tenants into illegal flats is now more than £186,680 out of pocket, following a pioneering prosecution by the London Borough of Hounslow.

The council used powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2004) to recover money earned by Kuldeep Singh Deol from the illegal conversion of two of his properties into flats. This includes reclaiming housing benefits paid to Mr Deol by his tenants.

Deputy leader and local ward councillor, Mark Bowen, said: "No other council in the country has raised the profile of planning enforcement as much as we have over the past few years.

“Prosecutions are always a last resort but we mean business and will not hesitate to take steps to ensure that when people are served with enforcement notices they are complied with.

“This prosecution is major news not only for my ward but for the wider borough and it will hopefully act as a deterrent to anyone who thinks enforcement notices can be ignored."

Mr Deol aged 60, of Ivanhoe Road, Hounslow, repeatedly failed to comply with warning letters’ from the council to return his properties on Staines Road to their original condition.

Mr Deol had without planning permission:

• Converted 379 Staines Road into four self contained flats
• Converted 377 Staines Road into three self contained flats
• Built an unauthorised rear extension at 379
• Built an unauthorised front extension at 377

Planning permission to continue using the two properties as seven flats was first refused by the council in February 2005. Following this Mr Deol was then issued with four separate enforcement notices in relation to:

• The change of use of the premises at 377 Staines Road from a single-family dwelling house into three self contained flats
• The change of use of the premises at 379 Staines Road from a single-family dwelling house into four self contained flats
• The erection of a single storey front extension at 377 Staines Road
• The erection of a single storey rear extension at 379 Staines Road

These notices required Mr Deol to stop use of the properties as separate flats and remove the unauthorised extensions. He eventually pleaded guilty to the offences at Kingston Magistrates Court on 10 November 2008.

Following this the council then requested that the court proceed to confiscation proceedings. On 21 January 2010 the case went before Judge HHJ Barnes at Kingston Crown Court.

The Judge found that Mr Deol had financially benefitted from his offences in the sum of £186,680 and a confiscation order was made for the full amount. Mr Deol was given six months to pay, and could face a prison term of two and a half years if he fails to do so.

Fifty percent of this money confiscated will go to HM Treasury and the remaining amount will be divided between the court collection agency and the council’s investigation team.

The Judge granted a restraint order to prevent Mr Deol from disposing of his assets.

Mr Deol was also ordered to pay a contribution of £2,000 towards the council’s costs and fined £750 for the offences.

Mr Deol has now complied with the enforcement notices.