An east London managing agent/property manager who converted 2 family homes into 8 flats without permission has been told he will face a 9 month prison sentence if he does not pay within 3 months £73,850 "in accrued proceeds of crime" from rental income on the flats. He must also pay an £8000 fine for breaching enforcement notices and £3,065 in costs.

The agent's relative bought the houses in 2017 and the agent was responsible for their management. Council officers discovered that he had turned one house into 5 flats and the other into 3 flats despite applications to carry out conversions having been rejected.

2 enforcement notices were served requiring the agent to turn the flats back into houses but the notices were ignored.

The agent pleaded guilty at the magistrates to 2 offences of not complying with enforcement orders and his eventual sentence was handed down at crown court on 6th June 2022.

Cllr. Syed Ghani, council cabinet member for enforcement and community safety said "We hope this sends a strong message to anyone who thinks they can operate outside the rules in Barking and Dagenham that we will find you and take action against you ..."