Rogue landlord hit with bill for £43k after building extension without permission

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

A landlord has been fined more than £43,000 after moving tenants into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) which had been extended without permission.

Charles Margulies, of BMR Hemini Ltd, was found to have breached planning controls and failed to comply with an enforcement notice to demolish the extension after an investigation by Wandsworth council.

The council said BMR Hemini Ltd bought a home in Putney in 2022 and, without applying for planning permission, extended it so that it could rent it to more tenants as an HMO. It submitted a retrospective planning application for the works after neighbours complained.

The authority rejected the application and issued an enforcement notice requiring the demolition of the extension. Officers ruled it was ‘overbearing, creating an increased sense of enclosure and visual intrusion’ for surrounding properties.

BMR Hemini Ltd instead lodged an appeal against the refusal of planning permission and moved tenants into the property. When the appeal was thrown out by a planning inspector, the company said it could not demolish the extension as it was occupied by a tenant.

The council said the company only began to demolish the extension nine months after the enforcement notice deadline, when it was issued with a court summons for failure to comply. The authority added it pursued the case to prosecution due to the negative impact of the ordeal on neighbours.

Charles Margulies and BMR Hemini Ltd were found to have failed to comply with the enforcement notice at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on March 24. They were ordered to pay £43,154 overall – including a fine of £16,000, the council’s legal fees of £23,554 and a victim surcharge of £3,600.

Labour council leader Simon Hogg said: “All of the actions from this landlord clearly show that they cared more about rental income than following the rules. The outcome of this case sends a clear message that we will not tolerate breaches of planning control in Wandsworth which ignore the impact such actions have on neighbours.”

Pictured top: The extension at 67 Linstead Way (Picture: Wandsworth council)