A landlord who illegally converted a property into five flats has been ordered to pay £282,000 for breaching planning consent and other planning policies. Krzysztof Pogwizd, 50, from Rickmansworth, was fined and ordered to pay a confiscation order for ignoring warnings from Ealing Council to restore the house in Dorchester Road, Northolt, to its original state.

Details of the Case:

• Initial Enforcement Notice: In early 2020, Ealing Council issued an enforcement notice requiring Pogwizd to stop renting the house as five self-contained flats and to remove modifications such as bathrooms, kitchens, drainage connections, internal locks, doors, and partitions. Pogwizd did not appeal this notice.
• Failed Planning Application: In July 2022, Pogwizd applied for planning permission to convert the house into four self-contained flats, but this application was refused by the council in August 2022. Despite this, the landlord continued with the illegal use of the property.
• Inspection and Discovery: In October 2022, following an inspection by Ealing Council’s planning enforcement team and police, it was discovered that the property was still being used as multiple flats, in violation of the original enforcement notice.
• Court Proceedings: Pogwizd was summoned to Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in September 2023, where he pleaded guilty. The case was referred to Isleworth Crown Court, where, on 21 October 2024, he was ordered to pay:
  • £259,920.51 as a confiscation order.
  • A £12,000 fine.
  • A £2,000 victim surcharge.
  • £8,994.56 in costs.

Further Developments:

• In March 2023, Pogwizd obtained planning permission to legally convert the property into three self-contained flats, though this did not absolve him of the previous illegal actions.

Council’s Statement:

Cllr Shital Manro, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for good growth and housing, stressed the importance of supporting law-abiding landlords to provide safe and quality housing. However, he emphasized the need for strict action against the minority of landlords who put tenants at risk by renting out substandard living conditions. He added that anyone looking to make substantial changes to their property must obtain planning approval beforehand, and the council would continue to take strong action to protect private tenants.

This case highlights the significant penalties landlords face when they ignore planning regulations and fail to provide safe living conditions for tenants.