A buy-to-let landlord in west London has been ordered to pay a £1.44m penalty under the Proceeds of Crime Act after he repeatedly broke planning rules and then refused to follow legal orders.

Ali Bahbahani, of no fixed address, failed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on 25 January 2024 and as part of the confiscation order, Ealing Council will be recovering over £16,000 in unpaid council tax and business rate bills on top of the £1,283,444 he was told to pay.

Bahbahani has been penalised, including extra costs, for converting a house into flats, including an extension, in Waldegrave Road, Ealing, without planning consent – and then not complying with orders to cease the use and demolish the unauthorised extensions.

Justin Morley, the council’s head of legal services, said: “This is quite a remarkable case, given the size of the confiscation order. It reflects not only the time and hard work that officers invested in this case, but also the commitment to go through the proper legal channels.”

Since 2013, Ealing Council has issued a number of court applications to restore the house to its original condition and during court proceedings it was revealed that someone impersonating Mr Bahbahani had attended the initial hearings.

The case was heard before several courts before being concluded at Isleworth Crown Court in January.

It was revealed during court proceedings that someone impersonating Bahbahani had attended the initial hearings, adding to the delay.

Cllr Shital Manro, cabinet member for good growth and new housing, commented: “This was a flagrant abuse of the planning system.

“You must make sure you have planning permission for major changes of any sort to your property.

“Failure to do so will result in court action and, as we have seen, can be very costly.”

The property in Waldegrave Road has now been purchased by a new owner and the council is working with them to finally resolve the illegal building works that were carried out on the property.