A Sydenham flat with a rat infestation and illegally hot-wired electrics was among two properties inspected by Lewisham Council in a crack down on rogue landlords.

The overcrowded flat, located at the back of a shop on Sydenham High Road, had been shared by several residents each paying £220 in rent per month with an unsanitary bathroom located adjacent to the shop’s food storage area.

Food safety inspectors returned to the premises to ensure stored produce was not being sold to the public after seizing bottles of whisky on which duty had not been paid as well as stocks of illegal tobacco.

The business owner failed to cooperate with police and council inspectors and subsequently further legal action will be taken.

In another property on the same street, officers under the same operation discovered at least 10 occupants in an unlicensed house with residents paying on average £150 per week.

The property was also found to be structurally unsafe with sections of the ceiling and window panes missing, unrelated adults crammed in shared rooms, water supply from a dangerous boiler, unsafe electrics and no fire safety provision.

On this occasion, the landlord was willing to get the property in an acceptable condition.

Councillor Damien Egan, Cabinet member for housing, said: “These ongoing operations send a very strong message to landlords – we will not stand by while the poorest in our community are ruthlessly exploited by those that want to turn a profit on the London housing crisis.

“We will use every power available to us, together with the police, to bring criminal landlords to book.”