17 young men found living cramped inside filthy three-bedroom house in Brent

Jamie Bullen11 July 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Seventeen young men were found packed inside a three-bedroomed house in north-west London when council officers raided the home.

A catalogue of shocking squalor was uncovered by police and enforcement officers during a swoop on the overcrowded property in Kingsbury.

Up to five people were discovered sleeping on filthy mattresses squashed inside tiny rooms with no hot water or heating throughout the house.

Rubbish strewn across the backyard, faulty appliances, a dirty kitchen with a leaking sink and protruding electric cables were also uncovered during an inspection.

Squashed: The tenants were found living in cramped conditions inside the house
Brent Council

An investigation found all 17 tenants were paying cash in hand to one person living at the house who then passed on the £1,200 rent.

Brent Council said the head tenant now faces prosecution after the total rent collected was found to be £3,400.

The council said two rent recipients have been told to leave the property or face an unlimited fine.

Police made one arrest during the raid in connection with a previous offence.

Squalid: Filth was uncovered throughout the home which had no hot water or heating
Brent Council

The raid was carried out as part of a council crackdown on rogue landlords letting out squalid and unlicensed properties.

Sky News joined enforcement officers ahead of an expected TV programme next week to shine a light on overcrowding in London.

Cllr Harbi Farah, Brent Council's cabinet member for housing, said: "Having to live with 16 other people in these cramped conditions is unacceptable.

“We are talking about people's lives and no one deserves to spend theirs in a grimy, overcrowded house with no hot water or heating.

"While there are many good landlords in Brent who have licensed their properties, there's still a significant number who haven't, who are operating illegally and exploiting people for profit.

"We are in the process of identifying and taking enforcement action against unlicensed properties and I'm happy to see actions including the raid last week, taken against landlords who do not comply with the law.

"Licensing is good for everyone in Brent. It drives up standards in the private sector and ensures a good standard of living for our residents, something we are committed to providing."

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