An unscrupulous landlord who was using an old police station to house homeless people has been arrested.
London's Enfield Council has issued a formal notice to the landlord of a former police station building in Southgate for illegally operating it as a hostel. 
After weeks of investigation, the city council confirmed there had been a break-in at the Chaseside building.
Illegally advertised rental property
Not only was the building illegally advertised for rent, but it also housed tenants introduced by homeless support teams from other London boroughs.
And the city council has since contacted those local authorities, directing them to stop placing further tenants in the buildings.
Log Creation Limited, the planning agent for the scheme, declined to comment when contacted by the Enfield Dispatch.
rejected plan
Plans submitted last year to convert the former Southgate police station into a 65-room hostel were rejected by the city council over concerns it would worsen anti-social behavior in the area, The Dispatch reports. It is said that
There was strong opposition from the Metropolitan Police Department and local politicians.
Susan Erbil, the council’s cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said:
The City Council is committed to taking all necessary measures to combat unscrupulous landlords who ignore regulations. ”
“This is just the beginning of a long process. The council is committed to taking all necessary steps to tackle unscrupulous landlords who flout regulations and provide substandard accommodation.” she says.
“Such behavior is unacceptable and we will always take reasonable and defensible enforcement action.”
fire safety
The notice requires the owners to cease using the building as a hostel and remove all furniture and equipment within three months. The compliance period begins January 31 after the right to appeal is granted.
The city's private rental housing team is working with London Fire Brigade to address fire safety issues identified within the building.
