A company, which let an illegal outbuilding to a couple with a baby, has been fined over £16,000 after it was brought to court following an investigation by Hillingdon Council's Beds In Sheds team.

Shalini Largey, the principle director for McKane Holdings, appeared for sentencing at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on 3 October 2014. She pleaded guilty on behalf of the company at an earlier hearing to failing to comply with enforcement notices requesting her to cease the illegal use of an outbuilding in West Drayton Road, Hayes, and to demolish it.

McKane placed the family in the illegal outbuilding and charged them rent of £650 a month despite the council having served enforcement notices which had not been complied with.

Cllr Keith Burrows, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, said: "We will not tolerate commercial landlords lining their pockets with ill-gotten gains like this company had been doing. It is not acceptable to let people live in these poor conditions and especially not when there are children involved. It's a disgrace and I am pleased this was reflected in the level of fine from the courts."

McKane Holdings was fined £14,666, ordered to pay the council's legal costs of £1,655 and a victim surcharge of £120. The District Judge instructed the total sum of £16,441 must be paid within six weeks.