The council has prosecuted its first landlord for failing to get a licence.

Leyton landlord, Coral Dawkins, rented out her property on St George’s Road for 11 years without an appropriate license and now faces a fine totalling £1,517.

Waltham Forest Council prosecuted the 57-year-old after she failed to respond to several warning letters.

An inspection in January confirmed her property was being rented.

Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Khevyn Limbajee said: “There is simply no excuse not to have a licence in place by now.

Waltham Forest Council launched the Landlord Licensing scheme a year ago and is still carrying out action days to catch out rogue landlords."

Landlords without licenses can expect legal proceedings and an unlimited fine and those defying their license conditions can be fined as much as £5000.

The council has received 18,000 applications to the scheme so far.