Planning and Overcrowding

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that the Tory government's changes to housing benefit are leading to an increase in overcrowding.  It is said that a number of rapacious landlords are erecting buildings in their gardens without planning permission or proper certification in terms of things like fire safety.  Brent's plannng service will be devoting resources over the coming months to try to work out how extensive this problem actually is.  Where it occurs, we will use enforcement powers _ planning, health and safety or whatever _ to stamp it out.