A rogue landlords has been fined more than £20,000 after illegally renting a single house out to three separate families.

Veli Bunul was prosecuted at Basildon Magistrates Court after breaching legislation designed to protect tenants at a house he owned in in Tillingham Court Waltham Abbey.

During a visit, to Bunul’s property, officers from Epping Forest Council found 11 people were living in the three-storey house, in crowded conditions.

Three families, each with young children, were all sharing a single kitchen and two bathrooms.

Officers also found the property had inadequate fire precautions or a safe means of escape in the event of an emergency.

The court heard Bunul, of Chase Side, Canary Wharf, had previously ignored warnings from the council about his responsibilities to make the property safe.

He claimed he was unaware that the property was being occupied by several families and someone else collected rent on his behalf.

However, magistrates did not find his excuse credible and fined him £21,575 for failing to comply with property licensing rules.

Epping Forest Council housing portfolio holder, Cllr Syd Stavrou said: “We will not tolerate landlords who rent properties which fail to meet standards. 

“The council has a commitment to ensure that private landlords in the Epping Forest district do not take financial advantage of vulnerable tenants and put their lives at risk. 

“We will not hesitate to prosecute landlords who show a disregard for the law and their responsibilities towards occupants.”