The local authority at Brent in north London has secured what it calls “an important court victory” after “appalling conditions” were found at a house converted into seven rental units occupied by 27 people.

Six of the residents were children when the council conducted a visit on the property in August.

Willesden magistrates court fined Nitin Patel, the licence holder, a total of £43,261 for a range of breaches of standards, including £10,000 for allowing a cockroach infestation and £15,000 for fire safety breaches which left the tenants at severe risk.

Vispasp Sarkari was fined a further £15,115 in connection with the same case.

A council spokesman says: “Once again the courts have reinforced Brent’s zero-tolerance approach to rogue landlords with these heavy fines. Most landlords in the area are reputable, decent people doing a good job, and both they and private tenants should be reassured that we will track down, raid and prosecute the small minority who abuse vulnerable tenants in overcrowded, infested and downright unsafe flats. This building was fit only for cockroaches and these two sorry-excuses for landlords should be deeply ashamed.”