An unscrupulous landlord who illegally converted a property in north London into six flats has been ordered to pay more than £220,000.

A previous unlawful change of use into five flats led to Pathfield Estates Ltd being ordered to return the property in Bounds Green to its original condition by a 2008 planning enforcement notice.

However, an investigation launched in 2020 found a new six-flat conversion, in breach of the 2008 enforcement notice led to the company being convicted at Highbury Magistrates Court in 2021.

The magistrates referred the case to the Crown Court for sentencing and the start of confiscation proceedings brought by the council under the Proceedings of Crime Act (POCA).

Pathfield lodged two appeals against the conviction – firstly to the Crown Court (dismissed in June 2022) and then to the High Court (dismissed in July 2023, with an order to pay the Council’s costs of £11,100).

At its sentencing last month, the company was ordered to pay £226,433.18p made up of a £50,000 fine for not complying with the enforcement notice, a confiscation order under POCA of £163,258 to reflect its financial benefit from breaching the enforcement notice, plus a further £13,175.18p in costs.

Cllr Sarah Williams, cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning at Haringey Council, which successfully prosecuted the company, said: “This conviction serves as a warning to disreputable landlords operating in our borough.

“Our residents deserve to live in safe, high-quality homes and we will not hesitate to take strong action if landlords flout planning laws or leave tenants to languish in poor conditions.”