Two landlords have been hit with a staggering financial penalty totalling £679,142 after a court found they illegally carved a three-bedroom house into six substandard 'shoebox' flats.
The Illegal Conversion and Council Action
Inderjeet and Jasvinder Chokkar carried out the unauthorised conversion of the property without obtaining any planning permission. They then proceeded to rent out the poorly converted, cramped flats for financial gain. Brent Council, which described the flats as 'shoebox' accommodations and the couple as 'greedy' and 'brazen', issued an enforcement notice demanding they reverse the work.
Despite the council's order, the Chokkars ignored it and continued to profit from the illegal scheme. This led to a prosecution for breaching the planning enforcement notice, a conviction, and a failed appeal by the property owners.
Substantial Financial Repercussions
The court imposed severe financial consequences. The couple have been ordered to repay the full amount they earned from the illegal rentals, which stands at an eye-watering £564,367. On top of this, Mr Chokkar received a separate fine of £25,000 and faces a prison sentence of up to 12 months if he fails to pay.
Mrs Chokkar was fined £15,000 and given an eight-month custodial sentence, also suspended pending payment. Their company, Housing Solutions (GB) Ltd, was fined a further £25,000. The pair must also cover nearly £50,000 in costs related to the council's enforcement and prosecution efforts.
A Warning to Rogue Operators
Cllr Krupa Sheth, Brent Council's Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Enforcement, issued a stern warning to other landlords. "These rogue landlords have felt the full force of the law after choosing to rip off tenants, house them in substandard conditions and ignore planning regulations," she said.
She added, "This kind of exploitation is illegal, and we will root out every last landlord in Brent who behaves like this and take them to court. If you break planning laws and exploit tenants in Brent, we will do everything in our power to bring you to justice. You will pay the price."
The case, concluded in early January 2026, serves as a powerful reminder of the significant penalties facing those who flout housing and planning regulations for profit.
