Double Lottery Winner's Illegal Outbuilding Demolished
Hounslow Council took action after complaints
A millionaire landlord who built an illegal outbuilding at his Feltham home has been forced to demolish it after pressure from Hounslow Council’s Housing Enforcement team.
EuroMillions and Lotto Millionaire Raffle winner George Traykov’s luck finally ran out when he buckled under pressure from enforcement officers who threatened to prosecute him and demolish the outhouse in the garden of his home in Shakespeare Avenue – and bill him for the costs. He risked a fine of up to £20,000.
Mr Traykov had claimed that the building had been built by the previous owners, but aerial photography records proved he had built it himself.
The illegal outbuilding in his garden
The council received complaints from residents that the outhouse was being used to house tenants but Mr Traykov insisted it was being used for storage.
A visit by housing enforcement officers saw that it had been designed for residential use with toilet and shower facilities and a residential-style front door and letterbox. Further investigations revealed that the illegal structure was being rented to two tenants for £600 a month.
Letters were sent to Mr Traykov informing him of his breach of planning laws, followed by an official enforcement notice in March this year to demolish the outbuilding.
Mr Traykov appealed against the enforcement orders but lost the appeal due to the amount of extensive evidence gathered by Hounslow’s housing enforcement officers.
Mr Traykov finally demolished the illegal outbuilding last week (29 July).
This wasn’t the first time Mr Traykov faced enforcement action for an illegal outbuilding. He suffered the same fate in Harrow when he was ordered to demolish a similar outbuilding.
Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “We’re delighted that Mr Traykov has voluntarily demolished his illegal outbuilding, which at one point was being used to house tenants.
“Mr Traykov has buckled under the pressure of our Housing Enforcement team and has taken matters into his own hands, avoiding a court appearance, potential fine or further direct action by us to demolish the building ourselves and bill him for the costs.
“Mr Traykov is not the only person we have in our sights. All rogue landlords who build properties in our borough without planning permission, can expect a knock on the door from our housing enforcement officers.
“Anyone who thinks they can get away with it, should think again.”
To report concerns, please send to Illegal.dwellings@hounslow.gov.uk or call 020 8583 3871.
August 9, 2016