The interest shown by Eye readers in yesterday’s story about the tiny rental flat in Islington, London, has been shared by the local council – which has now banned it from being rented out.

Planning and environmental health teams were called in to investigate the flat, where the foot of a single bed is just inches away from the front door and shares its space with a kitchen.

Paul Convery, councillor for the Caledonian ward at Islington Council, said he had asked for an investigation after seeing photographs of it online. He said the fire and safety service would also be looking at the flat.

The Kember Street property, near King’s Cross, was advertised by Relocate Me agents on Rightmove at £737 per month, and was reportedly snapped up in under 16 hours.

Landlord Andrew Panayi insisted that the property – one of 40 in a four-storey block that was a former hostel – had planning permission and had been inspected by the authorities.

An Islington Council spokesperson said on Wednesday: “We take alleged breaches of planning rules and the Housing Acts very seriously, and are seeking to gain access to this property to investigate fully and rigorously.

“We will take robust action if any planning controls or housing acts are being breached.”

Yesterday, Thursday, the council announced that the flat was too small to meet legal requirements. An order has been issued to prevent it from being let.

Housing chief councillor James Murray said: “The problem is that people are getting squeezed by high private rent prices and the lack of affordable housing, so you get landlords who are in a position to exploit people.”