Rogue landlord fined more than £20k for renting out converted BT Station

A buy-to-let landlord who rented out a converted British Telecom station in Osterley without consent has been ordered to pay over £20,000 after losing a five year battle with Hounslow Council’s planning enforcement team.

Landlord Riaz Virani has been penalised after he was found to be renting out the BT station, located along an alleyway between Great West Road and Spencer Road, Osterley.

The property was acquired 12 years ago by Virani under his company names Delightful Properties Limited and Lower Richmond Properties Limited.

The council took court action against Virani and some of his named businesses after council planning enforcement officers visited the site in 2013.

The building was found to be converted into a self-contained unit. A planning enforcement notice was issued demanding the 38-year-old stop renting out the property.

Virani ignored the council’s request and carried on renting out the building, and this led to a court summons.

At Isleworth Crown Court, Virani was ordered to pay £10,000 confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) and fined £3,300, while his companies, Delightful Properties Limited and Lower Richmond Properties Limited, were collectively fined £6,000.

Virani was also ordered to pay legal costs of £1,277 and a victim surcharge of £170.

A Hounslow Council spokesperson said: “This blatant disregard of planning rules and regulations has seen this man fined and a significant proportion of his gains recouped – and rightly so.

“We will always investigate residents’ complaints and take the strongest possible action we can to ensure those who think they can line their pockets illegally are made to pay the price.”

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