Landlord Fined for Illegally Converting Bungalow into 15 Rooms
A court ruled, the judge imposing a penalty on a landlord whose conversion—transforming a three-bedroom bungalow into a 15-room structure for multiple occupancy without the state’s consent—triggered charges that linked poor conditions, legal breaches, and the property’s location in Egham, Surrey.
During a session at Staines Magistrates’ Court, the decision emerged as a fine of £12,000 was exacted; inspectors noted the building’s unsafe state in which mould in bathrooms, missing smoke alarms, and cramped quarters—each detail tied directly to substandard facilities—undercut the living environment. Tenants, paying between £85 and £125 weekly, existed in spaces where proper bedding and basic rest provisions were absent, a fact that deepened the case’s complexity.
Local bodies, recognizing that the number of inhabitants exceeded the legal threshold and that room sizes failed to meet statutory minimums, initiated an investigation; a warrant allowed officials to enter and document conditions, conditions which demanded strict regulatory adherence lest further violations occur.
This report, a record of a breach that linked noncompliance with hazards to legal and health risks, reminds property holders that neglecting statutory standards invites profound consequences for asset security and tenant welfare.
