A landlord who illegally converted a Haringey house into four flats and rented them out has been fined £3,000.

Costas Charalambous, of Maida Vale, London, W9, was also ordered to pay £1,780 in costs by Haringey magistrates.

He purchased the property in Warham Road, N4, in 2007 for £400,000 and invested more funds converting it into flats and began renting them out even though he did not have planning permission.

He recently pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice under Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

When making its decision, the court is entitled to take into account the money the landlord made in renting the property out.

Cr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities, said: “The clear message from this case is that people cannot flout planning laws and expect to get away with it.

“The law is there to protect people who rent this kind of accommodation as well as other residents living nearby. We will not hesitate to take action.”