A buy-to-let landlord in Dagenham has been ordered to pay more than £13,000 for unlawfully evicting his tenant.

Romford Magistrates’ Court heard that the unscrupulous landlord also prevented gas and electricity meters from being topped up and secretly changed the locks while his tenants were at work.

According to Barking and Dagenham Council, Stephen Kayode Rotimi, 64, denied unlawfully evicting the four tenants and claimed they had all left the property voluntarily in October 2019.

But Rotimi, of Halbutt Street, Dagenham, was found guilty of unlawful eviction and breaching management regulations at a property he rented out in Maplestead Road, Dagenham.

He was ordered to pay a total of £13,474, including £2,000 for each eviction, £700 for breach of management regulations and prosecutions costs of £4,574 following a two-day trial at Romford Magistrates’ Court.

Cllr Margaret Mullane, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety at Barking and Dagenham Council, commented: “We’re more than happy for private landlords to operate in the borough, but they must follow the rules set and this individual certainly hasn’t.

“He knew some of his tenants personally, but still failed to provide suitable housing for them – even though they paid their rent – and then ultimately illegally evicted them.”