Illegal Beds-in-Sheds Building Demolished

Ealing crackdown on outhouses used for rental

The owners of an illegal outhouse in Ealing have demolished it to avoid a £20,000 fine.

It follows visits by council officers to a property in Masefield Avenue, Southall after they were alerted that the owners had built an outbuilding without planning permission.  

Outhouse demolition at Masefield Avenue

Officers believed the self-contained building was being rented out as accommodation, for at least £750 a month,

The owners demolished the building last month after being given an Enforcement Notice warning that they faced legal action and a fine of up to £20,000.

In another case the council’s outhouse enforcement team is now successfully overseeing the voluntary demolition of a brand new fitted kitchen in another build in Priory Gardens, near Hanger Lane; after neighbours complained that it – along with a legal extension to the house – took up most of the garden.

Priory Gardens kitchen demolition

When their inspection revealed the fitted kitchen; the council then ordered the owners to remove it or face charges for illegally constructing a building intended as a dwelling.

Ealing’s deputy leader and cabinet member for community services and safety, Councillor Ranjit Dheer said: 

“So-called ‘beds in sheds’ are a real problem across London for so many reasons. They don’t comply with housing safety standards or planning controls which means they’re often not properly connected to the electricity, gas, water or sewage supply, either and are generally hazardous places to live in and a serious nuisance to the people in neighbouring properties.

“Ealing Council will always investigate any illegal outhouses that we hear of and take firm action whenever appropriate.  People might be surprised that you can be fined as much as £20,000 if you’re prosecuted and cases like these two show the consequences of putting up an illegal outhouse can still be costly for homeowners, so it really isn’t worth taking the risk.”

If you would like to report an occupied outbuilding, telephone 020 8825 8786 or email the details to outhouses@ealing.gov.uk. You can also report an illegal outhouse on the council website at www.ealing.gov.uk/reportit.

16th September 2014