Raid on Avenue Road uncovers a 70-bed property

An immigration raid on Avenue Road in Acton has uncovered a 70-bed property with people living in "Dickensian and appalling" conditions - operating in breach of planning conditions.

The house at number 116 was featured on BBC's 'The One Show' which was investigating illegal immgration.

Immigration Officers arrested three people, but the state of the house, in what he described as 'a leafy suburb of West London', shocked reporter, Nick Wallace.

(pics courtesy BBC The One Show)

He revealed every room to be 'crammed with beds' with a variety of damp and dangerous conditions, a portacabin type extension had even been added within the house.

The reporter described it as 'a slum' and said he had been told that there were 70 people in the building each paying £70 a week rent.

(view the report on The One Show here from 3.11)

Earlier this month a man was arrested after a stabbing on Avenue Road and the property has long been a source of worry for neighbours who say they have shared their concerns the police and the council.

Ealing Council have been back to inspect the site with the London Fire Brigade since the raid but initally said that there was no legal penalty which they can apply for what the landlord has done.

An Ealing council spokesperson had said, ''We led an operation with partners from the police and UKBA  in Acton last week and uncovered private tenants living in completely unacceptable conditions.  The task force will now use our combined powers to bring enforcement action against this landlord to stop this property being used in this way. 

''This is a growing issue across London and we are trying to tackle problems of over-crowding and poor quality housing by introducing compulsory licensing for landlords.  If introduced we will have greater powers to prosecute owners of properties that are sub-standard.''

However when asked about the change of use status from commercial premises (it was formerly a warehouse) to residential, we received this reply.

'' We have received no application for a change of use at the property and no planning permission has been granted. The council is urgently investigating enforcement action to tackle the unacceptable living conditions on site.''

The Home Office say three people were detained in the raid. A Brazilian woman had overstayed her visa, a Bosnian man had entered the UK illegally and was subsequently found to be a failed asylum seeker and an Algerian man working in breach of his visa conditions.

(updated) 4th January 2016