A rogue landlord firm which illegally converted a property into six flats and ignored an enforcement order has been ordered to pay more than £220,000.

Haringey Council officers first discovered that the property in Bounds Green Road, London, had been converted from two flats into five self-contained flats in 2007. Pathfield Estates was ordered to return it to its original condition by a planning enforcement notice.

However, in 2020 the council’s planning enforcement department became aware that the property was being used as six self-contained flats which led to the company being convicted at Highbury Magistrates Court in 2021. The case was referred to crown court for sentencing and the start of confiscation proceedings brought by the council under the Proceedings of Crime Act.

Council's costs

Pathfield lodged two appeals against the conviction, firstly to the crown court, which was dismissed in June 2022, and then to the high court, which was dismissed in July 2023, with an order to pay the council’s costs of £11,100. Pathfield had argued that the enforcement notice was waived or relaxed by Haringey Council in 2008 and that it was not required to restore the property to two flats.

Confiscation order

The company has now been ordered to pay £226,433, made up of a £50,000 fine for not complying with the enforcement notice, a confiscation order of £163,258, plus a further £13,175 in costs.

Haringey Council’s cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning, councillor Sarah Williams (pictured right), says the conviction serves as a warning to disreputable landlords operating in the borough. She adds: “Our residents deserve to live in safe, high-quality homes and we will not hesitate to take strong action if landlords flout planning laws or leave tenants to languish in poor conditions.”

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