Wembley landlord banned for five years after 18 people found in one house

A Wembley landlord has been banned from letting or managing housing in England for five years and ordered to pay more than £91,000 in fines and costs. Sanjay Patel, a resident of Harrow, received the banning order following a series of severe housing breaches investigated by Brent Council. Enforcement officers discovered 18 people living in a property on Wyld Way that was licensed for a maximum of seven residents.

During the inspection of the Wembley property, officials found four people sharing a single attic room. The house featured locked windows that could not be opened and faulty smoke alarms throughout the premises. The most critical safety concerns were identified in an undeclared outbuilding on the site. A couple and their four-month-old baby were found living in this structure without access to heating or electricity. The family was subsequently referred to Brent Council’s Housing Needs and Support service for emergency assistance.

Financial penalties and tribunal rulings

Willesden Magistrates issued a fine of £87,000 to Mr Patel in March for the housing breaches. The court also ordered the payment of a £2,000 victim surcharge and £2,788 in prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £91,788. Following this criminal conviction, a tribunal issued the five-year banning order, which prohibits Mr Patel from carrying out any letting agency or property management work.

This legal action follows a history of non-compliance. In 2024, Mr Patel was fined £50,000 for offences at a different rental property on Vivian Avenue in Wembley. At that time, tenants reported a rat infestation, leaks, and a broken toilet. Officers found eight people, including two children, living in a house suitable for only five. The property was marked by mould, blocked hallways, and serious structural disrepair.

Enforcement of housing standards in Brent

The banning order is part of a broader effort to improve protections against rogue landlords and ensure that private rental properties meet legal safety requirements. Brent Council requires Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to be correctly licensed, a process that involves mandatory safety checks and limits on occupancy levels to prevent overcrowding.

Thomas Cattermole, Corporate Director of Resident and Housing Services at Brent Council, stated that the order sends a clear message that the borough does not tolerate landlords who prioritize profit over resident safety. He noted that the council intends to continue using the strongest available enforcement powers to hold landlords accountable for the condition of their properties.

Reporting unlicensed or unsafe housing

Brent Council is currently urging all private landlords operating within the borough to verify that their properties are correctly licensed. The local authority maintains a public register of licensed HMOs and continues to conduct unannounced inspections based on tenant reports and data matching.

Residents who have concerns about poor housing conditions, serious disrepair, or suspected unlicensed HMOs are encouraged to report these issues directly through the Brent Council website. These reports can be made anonymously and often serve as the primary trigger for enforcement action against non-compliant property owners.

Source: Brent Council