More than ten people found living in small Harrow family home

The discover was made in a surprise inspection by Harrow Borough Council officers as part of a crackdown on so-called 'beds in sheds'.

The latest raid was made on a property in Waltham Drive, Harrow, where 11 people were found living in one semi-detached house.

Three people were sharing one room and appliances were being powered from a source next to a light fitting in the ceiling.

The chief of the borough’s fire service warned the unlawful extensions appearing in Harrow were dangerous for residents and firefighters.

Harrow Fire Brigade borough commander Richard Claydon said: “There are safety issues for us when we are dealing with beds in sheds.

“Previously when we were attending a fire in a garage or a shed we would not expect to have people living in them. But now we have to plan for those circumstances.

"They are not only dangerous for the people living in them but also for the crews that have to deal with fires at the structures."

The council is now investigating the property for being an unlicensed hshared house breaching fire and electricity regulations.

Council leader Councillor Susan Hall said: “We appear to be seeing the resurrection of East End tenement overcrowding in suburban London with levels of exploitation to match.

“Placing up three people in one room with little more than mattresses for décor, and charging £160 a week for it sets a sorry new standard for rip-off Britain.

“This isn’t a victimless crime because the occupants of these beds in sheds lash-ups use council services, like rubbish collection, but the local authority doesn’t give us any grant for them – for the simple reason we don’t know they are there.”

The latest find comes as part of a council drive on beds in sheds, which recently uncovered an unlawfully build extension with four bedrooms being rented out in Courtenay Avenue, Harrow.

The council says it is currently investigating 100 cases of unlicensed HMOs and beds in sheds across the whole borough.