A Greenford landlord has been fined £3000 for renting out a decrepit outbuilding as a family home despite Ealing Council warnings.

In 2007, Ealing Council officers discovered a family was living in the converted garage in Hurley Road, Greenford.

They issued a prohibition order, forbidding anyone from living there because of the state of the building.

In February 2008 it was occupied by another family, who were still living there when officers visited again in April 2008.

Kunaratnam Kuganesan, 48, of Garrick Road, Greenford collected rent every month and was made aware of the breach in February 2008, when another family was found living in the garage. He was prosecuted because the family was still there in April 2008.

Kuganesan told the court that the family were meant to be living in the main house and he was unaware they were living in the garage.

He was found guilty of breaching a Council notice and was fined £3,000 plus £1,133 court costs.

Councillor Vlod Barchuk, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: "I’m delighted with the outcome of the case, which highlights the growing problem of landlords exploiting tenants by renting out substandard garden outbuildings. This is an issue the Council is seeking to stamp out."