Rogue landlord who housed 40 people in four-bed home banned

Jaydipkumar Rameshchandra Valand, who lives in Swinderby Road, Wembley Central, has been slapped with Brent Council’s first ever banning order and cannot engage in any property management work in the country for the next five years.

The landlord, 48, was one of four people found guilty of raking in £360,000 by cramming 40 tenants into a single semi-detached home in Napier Road, Wembley, in 2018.

A picture showing the outside of the property in Napier Road (Image: Brent Council)

Enforcement officers at the time found one of the tenants living in a shack made out of pallets and tarpaulin, with no lighting or heating.

Valand received a £5,000 confiscation order, but he went on to other housing-related offences.

Appearing at Willesden Magistrates’ Court in January 2022, he was found guilty of breaching housing regulations at a property in Wembley Hill Road.

It was found the house was left in disrepair and with waste building up, despite tenants paying £1,400 a month without tenancy agreements.

Valand was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £3,347 in costs.

Jaydipkumar Rameshchandra Valand outside the court (Image: Brent Council)

In court Valand declared he did not own a UK business, but Brent officers found evidence that this was false and as a result he was ordered to pay additional fines and costs of £6,190.

A judge has now banned Valand from letting out houses in England and engaging in any property management work in the country for the next five years.

Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt said: “This is the first ban we have issued since Brent was given the powers in April 2018 to ban serial rogue landlords under the Housing and Planning Act 2016. If Jaydipkumar Valand breaches his five-year ban, he will face a prison sentence.

“Brent Council takes a zero-tolerance policy against rogue landlords such as this, and we will use everything in our powers to hold them to account to safeguard our vulnerable residents.”

Landlords who rent out properties in Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green, will legally be required to pay for and have a licence from August 1.

Brent Council believes that a selective licensing scheme would have a “positive impact” in the three areas as it will help ensure landlords offer decent facilities and living areas.