A landlord who operated an illegal Leyton gambling den has been fined £16,000.

The gambling den was discovered when Waltham Forest Council officers responded to complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Neighbours submitted multiple complaints regarding noise and disturbances at the address in Belmont Road.

On arrival, council officers were astonished to discover an illegal gambling den operating from the rented house with large numbers of people visiting daily to play cards, drink and smoke.

More than 75,000 cigarettes and over 800 packs of playing cards were being stored in the house, alongside a large amount of alcohol.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Council officers were shocked to discover an illegal gambling den

A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I have a young child, who I do not allow to spend any time in our garden because of groups of men congregating next door, smoking and drinking beer in the rear.

“I can’t open my back door because the unpleasant smells from [the house] are coming to my property. I struggle to put my child to sleep most night because of the noise coming from next door and this puts an extra strain on me and my work.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Neighbours complained about smells emanating from the building

Following the landlord’s failure to close down the gambling den, the council secured a Premises Closure Order at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

Any persons found on the property who were not authorised to be there during further visits faced arrest.

The landlord, Hasan Younis lodged an appeal, which was was initially successful but the decision was reversed at the upper tribunal and he agreed to pay a fine of £16,000.

Cllr Louise Mitchell, cabinet member for housing, said: “When the behaviour of tenants causes disruption to the lives of their neighbours, a responsible landlord should take effective action to remedy the situation.

“Disappointingly, it did not happen in this case and it is in these situations that we will step in to take action. “We’re pleased that the swift and effective action of council officers has put an end to the issues at this address. Our teams work hard to prevent this kind of behaviour so that residents can enjoy peace and quiet in their own homes.”