A landlord has been ordered to pay £235,000 after letting four flats in “filthy conditions”, inside an illegal extension.

Zoofshan Malik, listed on Companies House as director of Emerson Knight Estates, pleaded guilty.

Her properties had been rented out through the firm.

Council officers in the London borough of Barking & Dagenham raided the property after being tipped off about the 37ft extension, and discovered the condition of the bedsits.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court last week, Recorder Milliken Smith ordered the 47-year-old to pay a £222,000 Confiscation Order – under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – in three months or face two years imprisonment. He also fined her £2,000 for the illegal extension with three months to pay or face 30 days in jail, as well as pay £11,649 in costs.

The proceeds of crime case was brought before the court after Barking and Dagenham Council argued Malik had benefited from her offending following an earlier hearing on the illegal extension.

Councillor Laila Butt, Barking and Dagenham’s cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said: “This illegal extension and filthy flats would not have looked out of place in a Rio slum.

“Through our tough enforcement action they have been demolished so no one else has to suffer such bad living conditions.

“What makes matters worse is her connection to the estate agency – she knew the law and was intentionally exploiting people who find it hard enough to find property to rent at affordable prices.”