A ROGUE company illegally housed a couple with a young baby in an outbuilding in Hayes.

The young family were paying £650 a month in rent.

The firm has now been ordered to pay more than £16,000 after it was taken to court by Hillingdon Council's Beds In Sheds team.

Shalini Largey, principal director for McKane Holdings, appeared for sentencing at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.

She had pleaded guilty, on behalf of the company, at an earlier hearing to failing to comply with enforcement notices requesting her to stop using the outbuilding in West Drayton Road and to demolish it.

McKane Holdings was fined £14,666, ordered to pay the council's legal costs of £1,655 and a victim surcharge of £120.

The jistrict Judge said the total sum of £16,441 should be paid within six weeks.

Cllr Keith Burrows, cabinet member for planning, 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."

The council is working with the young family to see what help is available to them.