A rogue landlord has been locked out of a house he owns after 16 people were found living in the property.
In a highly unusual move, Waltham Forest Council seized control of the house after the landlord's persistent refusal to make it safe, officials said.
It came after four people were found living in a "beds in shed" shack in the back garden of the house in Overton Road, Walthamstow.
A total of 16 people were found to be living in the three-storey home, which was split into five separate units in a breach of planning rules.
The landlord was charging the tenants a total monthly rent of more than £4,000, and had not paid council tax in four years.
The tenants will now pay rent directly to Waltham Forest Council, which says it will visit the property with a contractor to establish the cost of making repairs to ensure the building is safe.
The cost of the work will be deducted from rent received by the authority while it acts as landlord.
Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “It’s obviously a last resort for us to have to take control of a property away from its owner, but we were given no choice due to this landlord’s poor attitude and lack of concern for the safety of his tenants.
“The majority of landlords operating in Waltham Forest are responsible, but we will not hesitate to take decisive action against the few who think they can get away with ignoring the law and putting their tenants at risk.”
The council says it changed the locks of the building after serving an Interim Management Order last week.
A spokesman said the council hopes the landlord will "come forward to deal with the outstanding breaches and settle any debts".
