A rogue landlord has been fined £24,000 for housing tenants in a illegal extension.

Mohammed Saleem, of High Road, Ilford illegally rented out beds to a family-of-three and three men in a small building in an 'appalling condition'.

The illegal single-storey dwelling had a leaking roof, dangerous electrics, no fire alarm or fire doors, and some rooms had no ventilation or windows.

Redbridge Council say people could have been killed in the event of a fire.

Saleem failed to attend Havering Magistrates Court on December 13, and in his absence he was found guilty of eight housing management offences under the 2004 Housing Act.

He received fines of £3,000 per offence, ordered to pay costs of £1, 638 and a victim surcharge of £120, all of which is was ordered to be paid within 28 days.

Rebridge Council was tipped-off about the illegal structure last year and in April, the Housing Standards Team obtained a court warrant to launch an enforcement operation.

Redbridge Community Police Team, Building Control, Planning Enforcement, London Fire Brigade and a Home Office Immigration Enforcement team were all involved.

Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Michelle Dunn, said, "This fine for failing to keep residents safe is one of the largest in the country and shows the seriousness of the offences.

"The tenants were living in dangerous conditions and we will not tolerate landlords allowing people to live in our Borough like this and will continue to take tough enforcement action."