Two men ordered to pay over £100,000 after 21 people found in overcrowded Wembley house

Two men have been ordered to pay more than £100,000 in fines and costs after 21 people, including three children and a 10-month-old baby, were found living in one overcrowded house in Wembley.

Brent Council said the house, at 50 Bassingham Road, had more than twice as many people living in it as its licence allowed.

Council officers looked into the property after tenants raised concerns. They found cockroaches, breaches of fire safety rules and poor kitchen facilities, including broken stoves and missing doors.

Fines for the licence holder and the manager

Meet Valand, the property manager and licence holder, acted as an agent for the owner. He was convicted of seven offences and fined £40,000. He must also pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £3,183.85 in prosecution costs.

Vispap Sarkari managed the property and collected the rent. He was also convicted after the council's investigation.

The court heard that Mr Sarkari had not met basic safety and maintenance standards. The problems included fire alarms, fire safety equipment and escape routes, a damaged porch door and cracked bathroom fittings.

Because he had earlier housing convictions, the court treated him as a repeat offender and fined him £50,000. He must also pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £3,183.85 in prosecution costs.

Together, the two men must pay about £100,368.

The court found that the failings were Category 1 hazards. This is the most serious level of housing hazard, and it reflects the risks to the people living there, especially from fire.

The council said Mr Sarkari was convicted of housing offences in March 2026. With these further findings, he can now be considered for a banning order, which can stop a person from letting or managing rented homes.

Improvements since the council stepped in

Brent Council said the owner has made significant improvements to the property since the council became involved, and is working with the council to meet the licence conditions.

Councillor Robert Johnson spoke for the council. He said: "These convictions should serve as a warning to any landlord or property manager in Brent who chooses to ignore their responsibilities and put profit before people."

The council described property licensing as a key tool for raising housing standards, improving living conditions and tackling rogue landlords.

Renting in Brent

Brent runs one of the widest licensing schemes in London. Every landlord renting out a property in the borough needs a licence from the council, except landlords of single-household homes in Wembley Park.

A licence limits how many people can live in a property. It also sets conditions on fire safety, facilities and management. Tenants can check with the council whether their home is licensed.

This is not the first such case in Wembley this year. In March 2026, after another Brent Council prosecution, a landlord was ordered to pay more than £90,000 for letting at least 18 people live in a house in Wyld Way that was licensed for seven.

Anyone who is worried about a rented home that is overcrowded or unsafe, in Brent or nearby, can report it to their local council's private housing team.