‘Abusive and aggressive’ landlord given suspended prison sentence
Judge tells rogue London landlord who left tenant homeless after unlawful eviction he is 'lucky the prisons were full.'
A Brent building company owner who illegally evicted a tenant from a rental property with no planning permission has been handed a 26-week suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £20,000 in fines and compensation after a judge described him as a “rogue landlord”.
In a prosecution brought by Barnet Council, Qamil Cama was found guilty of harassing his tenant and leaving her homeless after unlawfully evicting her and throwing her belongings onto the street from his property on Crescent Road, Finchley.
Forced to give evidence behind screen
Speaking from behind a protective screen, the unnamed tenant told the court how she had been living in the property since September 2023 under a verbal rental agreement. She said things took a turn for the worse when the landlord began demanding extra cash on a weekly basis to cover bills. When she questioned the extra payments, he became verbally and physically aggressive towards her.
She also told the court about other, multiple altercations with him, including how he had entered the property at 7am, demanding cash, locking her in the property and eventually throwing her and her belongings onto the street. She also spoke of an incident where her landlord became physically aggressive towards her, pushing her in the chest.
Planning violations
The case against Cama was compounded by planning violations dating back to 2017. Barnet Council had originally granted planning permission in 2012 for the creation of two garages with a basement on the site. However, Cama instead converted the building into a residential rental unit, prompting the council to serve an enforcement notice. Cama, though, continued to rent out the property.
At his sentencing on 15 May 2025, the judge delivered a damning assessment of Cama’s conduct. Describing him as a ‘rogue landlord’, the judge also said Cama was “lucky the prisons were full.”
Cama was sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation activity. The £20,000 financial penalty included £10,000 compensation to be paid directly to the tenant.
