26 Jul 23
Riat’s career as a rogue landlord has ended after judges in London fined him £300,000 following two decades of managing illegally converted houses.
A statement from the council concerned – Hounslow – says vulnerable residents were obliged to exist “in terrible living conditions.”
Riat also illegally converted a property into eight flats and rented an outbuilding in Osterley.
The council says the terrible conditions included damp, squalored rooms with limited natural light. Other issues included a lack of hot water and heating only working irregularly.
Riat was previously fined £20,000 in 2009 for illegally converting a property in Hanworth into flats.
Now Riat faces being sent to prison if he does not pay the latest six figure fine.
A council spokesperson says: “This landlord treated his tenants as nothing more than a commodity – exploiting residents in need of housing for his own financial gain.
“While these residents were left to languish in these appalling conditions, Nirapaul grew rich on their expense.
“I hope today’s verdict sends a message that we do not – under any circumstances – tolerate rogue landlords in Hounslow and will use the full force of the law to prosecute them.”
Riat was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to charity.
