Proceeds of Crime Act

Attended the Brent and Harrow Trading Standards (TS) Advisory Board meeting last night. Delighted to hear that the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) is supporting joint work between Trading Standards and Planning Services. TS is currently conducting a number of financial investigations on behalf of other council departments including some related to planning. This involves recovering income from landlords in relation to residential properties that have been illegally - without planning permission - converted into flats or HMO's then rented out.  This is good news for the campaign I've encouraged in Willesden, where some properties without planning permission could end up being taken to court to recoup ill-gotten rental profits.