Property used by London boroughs to house homeless hit with planning enforcement notice

Enfield Council has served a planning enforcement notice on a landlord unlawfully operating a former police station building as a hostel.

The London borough said that homelessness teams from other London boroughs had been housing people on the property.

Enfield has since contacted these authorities, instructing them to refrain from placing any more tenants in the building.

The council's enforcement notice requires any occupation of the property in Southgate to cease and for any associated furniture and facilities to be removed within three months.

Cllr Susan Erbil, Enfield Council's Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said: "This case demanded a significant amount of information and evidence to gain access and investigate the property. I commend the hard work of our enforcement officers and thank the members and residents who provided crucial information."

She added: "This is just the beginning of a lengthy process. The council is committed to taking all necessary steps to tackle rogue landlords who flout regulations and provide substandard accommodation.

"Such practices are unacceptable, and we will always take justified and defensible enforcement action."

Adam Carey