Council secures £88k confiscation order against landlords who sub-divided property into flats without permission

The landlords, Dushanti Peter and Jayakody Perera, had been served with an enforcement notice requiring them to restore the property to a single-family dwelling, but they failed to comply.

Planning enforcement officers at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham resumed their investigation in August 2022 after discovering the owners had returned to the UK, having previously moved abroad.

The council said a subsequent inspection confirmed the property remained unlawfully converted, and the owners were summoned to Barkingside Magistrates’ Court in November 2023.

It added that despite pleading not guilty - claiming the property had since been reverted – the landlords were convicted in February 2024.

The case was then referred to Snaresbrook Crown Court for sentencing and a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing.

On 3 October 2025, the court fined the pair £12,000 for breaching the enforcement notice.

In addition, confiscation orders totalling £88,657.59 were granted, representing the rental income the landlords had unlawfully gained between 2018 and 2023.

Cllr Syed Ghani, Barking & Dagenham's Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said the defendants had profited significantly while ignoring legal requirements.

He added: “We’re pleased the courts have recognised the seriousness of this offence and ensured the proceeds of their unlawful activity have been recovered.”