The unlawful conversion of a family home into an HMO has cost a landlord over £40,000.

After investigating complains of building work, Ealing Council enforcement officers discovered that Muhammad Sohaib Anwar, of Acton, London, had changed his property to an HMO without planning permission.

He had split the first floor of the family home into sections and changed the layout to create nine bedrooms capable of accommodating 14 people.

Tenants paid up to £400 per month for a room with the use of shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Anwar had been served an enforcement notice to stop using the property as an HMO, remove one of the kitchens and return the property to a single-family home.

However, he ignored it and appeared before Ealing magistrates where he pleaded guilty to a charge of non-compliance.

Subsequently, at Isleworth Crown Court, he was given a confiscation order of £31,969 and ordered to pay a £2,500 fine plus £7,088.95 in costs – bringing the total to £41,557.95.

Cllr Julian Bell, council leader, said: “Mr Sahaib  Anwar was given several chances to comply with planning laws, but instead chose to line his own pockets.”