A north London council has launched a crackdown on “beds in sheds” as the problem moves from central London to the suburbs.
Harrow council has attacked “unscrupulous” landlords who rent out outbuildings and extensions, which are often in breach of planning law, to multiple tenants, many of whom are poor foreign workers.
Susan Hall, leader of Harrow council, said: “Beds in sheds is a creeping problem which is rippling further out from central London to areas like Harrow. We will hit unscrupulous landlords hard.”
In a recent raid council officers found a house with an illegal extension and stand-alone building capable of housing 12 people, potentially netting the landlord a rental income of about £4,000 a month.
The landlord will be interviewed in relation to planning, housing and revenues breaches and a demolition notice will be served on the building in the garden.
