A rogue London landlord has been stripped of his OBE by King Charles after letting out homes in “terrible conditions” for more than 15 years.
The Hounslow landlord was ordered to pay a £300,000 fine in 2023 – one of the largest financial penalties ever handed down to a property owner in the west London borough.
Tom Bruce, the deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said the decision to remove Riat’s honour sent a “clear message” that “profiting from unacceptable living conditions” would “not be tolerated”.
It was proven in court three years ago that Riat had unlawfully converted houses into flats and let outbuildings to vulnerable people who were forced to live in "terrible conditions".
The premises were damp and squalid, suffering from mould and water leaks. They were also found to have limited natural light, erratic heating, and an absence of hot water.
An example of a mouldy shower in one of Nirpaul Riat’s properties
LDRS
Judges at Isleworth Crown Court penalised Riat in 2023 following "two decades of managing illegally converted houses".
His breaches included converting a property into eight flats and renting an outbuilding in Osterley, west London.
The businessman had previously been fined £20,000 in 2009 for failing to secure permission to convert a property in Hanworth, also in Hounslow, into flats.
He was made an OBE in 2011 for “services to charity and to the Punjabi people” after he raised nearly £50,000 for air ambulance services, Thames Valley Crime Stoppers and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
But it has been confirmed by the Cabinet Office that Riat has since been stripped of his honour. The Whitehall department said Riat’s conduct had “brought the honours system into disrepute.”
At the time of Riat’s court penalty, Mr Bruce, the Labour deputy of Hounslow Council, called for Riat’s honour to be rescinded at the time.
Speaking in 2023, he said: “While these residents were left to languish in these appalling conditions, Nirpaul grew rich at their expense.”
Reacting to the latest developments, Mr Bruce said: “I am pleased to learn that Nirpaul Riat has been stripped of his OBE.
“Ensuring the best possible quality of life for our residents is an absolute priority, and we will use every measure at our disposal to protect tenants and hold rogue landlords to account.
“Mr Riat allowed his tenants to live in woeful conditions while growing rich at their expense. That is why Hounslow Council pursued the case and why such a significant fine was imposed.
“At the time of his conviction, I publicly called for Mr Riat to lose his OBE, and the council submitted a formal request.
“The stripping of his OBE, along with the original fine, sends a clear message: exploiting tenants and profiting from unacceptable living conditions is not something that will be tolerated in Hounslow.
“There should be consequences for rogue landlords who put their tenants’ welfare at risk.”