Two landlords have been hit with a massive financial penalty totalling over half a million pounds for illegally converting a Camden house into cramped, substandard flats.
Repeated Breaches and a Decade of Enforcement
Joel Salem, 66, of Highview Gardens, Finchley, and Judith Veronique Robinson-Dadoun, 58, formerly of Brampton Grove, Hendon, were found to have let out a seven-flat property on Fortune Green Road despite only having planning permission to subdivide it into four units. The saga began when Camden Council first issued an enforcement notice in October 2010 regarding the unauthorised flats.
After years of non-compliance, the pair were found guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 16 June 2020 for failing to obey the enforcement notice. They were initially ordered to pay a combined fine of £350,000 and full costs of £247,011.64.
Court of Appeal Upholds 'Significant' Penalties
The landlords appealed the sentence, but on 19 December of last year, the Court of Appeal threw it out, upholding the substantial penalties. The judge maintained the original fines and costs, which break down as a £262,500 fine and £185,258.73 in costs for Joel Salem, and a £70,000 fine plus £61,752.91 in costs for Judith Robinson-Dadoun.
Lord Justice Fraser was scathing in his assessment, describing Salem’s conduct as “egregious”. He emphasised that planning enforcement exists to protect tenants from exploitation, stating the defendants had ignored repeated warnings and profited from unlawful lettings for years.
A Strong Warning to Rogue Landlords
Councillor Danny Beales, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment, welcomed the verdict. He said it demonstrated the council’s commitment to pursuing breaches of planning rules and refusing to accept poor-quality accommodation.
“These developers sought to make as much money as possible from residents living in poor quality accommodation,” said Cllr Beales. “We will not accept this sort of behaviour.” He added that the ruling sends a powerful message to other landlords and building owners about the necessity of complying with planning regulations.
A key point upheld by the Court of Appeal was that the defendants’ actions directly led to the significant legal costs. Lord Justice Fraser agreed it would be “wholly wrong for Camden’s taxpayers to bear that burden.” The court also rejected arguments that the fines were excessive, confirming the Crown Court’s power to impose unlimited penalties for such offences.
