Camberwell landlord fined for illegally squeezing three basement flats into one

A rogue landlord faces a bill for more than £50k after being found guilty of illegally creating three tiny basement flats in a space fit for just one.

He was also fined for having an illegal and sub-standard rear-window extension at a separate property.

Planning rules were breached at two properties in Maude Road, Camberwell and Mawan Musa, 63, of that address, submitted a guilty plea in response to Southwark council’s prosecution. 

He was sentenced to pay £42,637.20 in illegal gains, and a further £10,000 in fines and costs at Inner London Crown Court on January 13. 

Musa squashed three tiny flats into the basement of one of his properties so he could collect rent from three households instead of one.

He also added a haphazard and sub-standard rear window extension on the roof of another property. Neither of these developments had any planning permission. 

Southwark council’s planning enforcement team led the prosecution when the illegal developments were not removed.  

The court agreed that Musa had illegally obtained £42,637.20 in rent after reviewing financial investigations carried out by the council’s trading standards team. 

Cllr James McAsh, cabinet member for climate emergency and sustainable development, said: “Everyone deserves a good quality place to live. Planning rules and space standards make sure that new developments are good quality and a decent size. 

“This was a shameless attempt to shoehorn three tiny flats into one basement, along with an illegal roof extension. This outcome serves as a warning that we will not tolerate planning breaches.  

“It also supports us in cracking down on those who try to benefit from renting illegal and sub-standard properties in Southwark.” 

The development is now in compliance with planning permission. 

Pictured top: Amateur hour. The shoddy rooftop extension which invoked one of the penalties (Picture: Southwark council)