A Wembley landlord has been barred from letting or managing housing in England for five years following a series of severe safety breaches and overcrowding violations. Sanjay Patel, a resident of Harrow, was issued the banning order after Brent Council enforcement officers discovered 18 people living in a property on Wyld Way that was licensed for a maximum of seven occupants.
The banning order, issued by a tribunal, prevents Patel from carrying out any letting agency or property management work until 2031. This legal action follows a substantial financial penalty handed down by Willesden Magistrates in March, where Patel was fined £87,000 for housing breaches. With the addition of a £2,000 victim surcharge and £2,788 in prosecution costs, the total financial penalty reached £91,788.
Severe overcrowding discovered at Wyld Way property
During inspections of the Wyld Way rental, enforcement teams found four people sharing a single attic room. The property featured several hazardous conditions, including windows that were locked shut and could not be opened, alongside faulty smoke alarms throughout the building.
The most critical safety concerns were identified in an undeclared outbuilding on the site. Officers found a couple and their four-month-old baby living in the structure without any access to heating or electricity. Due to the immediate risk to their health and safety, the family was referred to Brent Council’s Housing Needs and Support service for emergency assistance.
Repeat housing violations and the 2024 Vivian Avenue case
This is not the first time Sanjay Patel has faced significant legal action for his management of rental properties in Wembley. In 2024, he was issued a £50,000 fine—one of the largest recorded against an unlicensed landlord that year—for offences committed at a property on Vivian Avenue.
In that instance, tenants reported a rat infestation, persistent leaks, and a broken toilet. When council officers inspected the Vivian Avenue house, they found it was only suitable for five people but was being occupied by eight, including two children. The inspection also highlighted widespread mould, faulty doors, blocked hallways, and a general state of serious disrepair. The recurring nature of these offences contributed to the decision to pursue a long-term banning order to protect the public.
Brent Council enforcement and tenant safety measures
The local authority has signaled that it will continue to use the full extent of its legal powers to address rogue management practices. The banning order serves as a formal mechanism to remove non-compliant operators from the local housing market entirely.
Thomas Cattermole, Corporate Director of Resident and Housing Services, stated that the order sends a clear message that the borough does not tolerate landlords who prioritize profit over the safety of residents. He emphasized that every resident deserves a safe and secure home and that the council remains committed to holding rogue landlords to account.
Brent Council is currently urging all private landlords operating within the borough to verify that their properties are correctly licensed and meet all legal safety requirements. Residents who have concerns regarding poor housing conditions, maintenance failures, or suspected unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can report these issues through the official Brent Council website.
Source: Brent Council
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