Illegal ‘beds in sheds’ in back gardens are a becoming a growing problem for the borough say councillors.

Cases of properties being converted into shared houses or the building of unauthorised back garden extensions, known as beds in sheds, are on the rise in Harrow.

The concerns come after Harrow Borough Council, joined by police and fire officers, went to an address in Courtenay Avenue, Harrow, where they found an unlawfully adapted standalone extension with four bedrooms being rented out.

The three-bedroom semi-detached house, with back garden accommodation, could house a dozen people, yielding a possible rental income of £4,000 a month.

Council leader Cllr Susan Hall said: “Beds in sheds is a creeping problem across Harrow. The tenants are at the bottom of a chain of exploitation which is led by landlords who see easy pickings from those desperate to live in London.

“When you cram a dozen people into a semi-detached house, that has a knock-on effect as these are people who use council services, like schools and bin collections.

“It is not fair on them or the ordinary taxpayers of Harrow who effectively underwrite this, and we will keep hitting unscrupulous landlords hard.”

Council officers will serve a notice to the landlord for the demolition for the extension which was being rented out at £850 a month while the occupants claimed housing benefit.