Home > Blog > Ealing landlord fined £1.3m for breaching planning rules by converting house into flats
As published in the media and on the planning portal, Mr Ali Bahbahani has been ordered to pay £1,283,444 for converting and extending a home on Waldegrave Road to create flats without planning permission - and then refused to comply with an order to demolish the unauthorised works.
Ealing Council secured the confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act because Bahbahani, who lives overseas, profited illegally from renting the flats.
It will also recover more than £16,000 in unpaid council tax and business rate bills.
Multiple court applications to have the property restored to its original condition over the last decade have been issued by the council.
It was revealed during court proceedings that someone impersonating Bahbahani had attended the initial hearings. The case was concluded at Isleworth Crown Court on 25 January.
The council’s head of legal services, Justin Morley, said: “This is a quite remarkable case, given the size of the confiscation order. It reflects not only the time and hard work that officers invested in this case, but also the commitment to go through the proper legal channels."
Shital Manro, cabinet member for good growth and new housing, said: “This was a flagrant abuse of the planning system. You must make sure you have planning permission for major changes of any sort to your property. Failure to do so will result in court action and, as we have seen, can be very costly.”
Source: The Planner
It is important not to ignore enforcement notices. If you receive a letter from the council advising that an enforcement notice will be issued if you don't demolish or revert the property back into its former condition, or if you receive an enforcement notice, 4D Planning can help you win an appeal against enforcement action. Please get in touch with us to discuss: appeals@4dplanning.com
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