A Park Royal “beds in a shed” landlord who had been illegally letting an outbuilding in his garden for 10 years has been ordered to pay over £380,000 after being taken to court by Ealing Council.
Sheikh Warak of Wesley Road was ordered by Isleworth Crown Court to pay the money or risk being sent to prison for 42 months for his illegal letting of the outbuilding which had cramped living conditions
In May 2014, officers from Ealing Council discovered people were living in the outbuilding which was being used as a home. As a result, the council’s planning enforcement team issued ordered Mr Warak to stop renting the outbuilding and also required him to remove a kitchen and bathroom from the building.
A month later in June 2014 Mr Warak appealed the council’s notice to the Planning Inspectorate but his appeal was dismissed in May 2015 and he was ordered to comply with the notice by November 2015.
It took until 2020 before council officers could gain access and they found the outbuilding was still being used as a home. Ealing Council then commendced legal action against Mr Warak.
Eventually after delays caused by COVID-19 and other issues, he pleaded pleaded guilty to breaching the requirements of the enforcement notice at Isleworth Crown Court on 9 May 2023.
On 26 April 2024, the court ordered Mr Warak to pay a confiscation order of £346,437, in addition to costs of £10,063, a victim surcharge of £120, and a £26,250 fine – a total of £382,870. If payment is not made, he risks being sent to prison for 42 months.
