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More than 20 people including four children were found living in “almost Dickensian” conditions in a terraced house by inspectors clamping down on rogue landlords.

The shocking discovery was made by police and officers from Barking and Dagenham council in a series of dawn raids on rented properties across the borough yesterday.

A total of 22 people were found at the “illegally converted” house in Fordyke Road which was extended by its owner with an extra bedroom in the loft and a brick-built shed in the back garden.

In another property less than a mile away in Japan Road, 15 people including five children were found living in five rooms of a three-bedroom house.

And in nearby Manor Road officers found 18 people, including two children, in a three-bedroom house being rented as a six-bedroom property.

At all three properties there were said to be health and safety hazards including illegal wiring and inadequate fire precautions.

Councillor Laila Butt, Barking and Dagenham’s cabinet member for crime and enforcement, said: “It’s unacceptable to have these almost Dickensian conditions in a world class city such as London.”

Neighbours in Fordyke Road told the Standard they had raised concerns about the property but were astonished to learn the total number of people living inside.

Agne Arlauskiene, 34, said: “It’s almost impossible to believe people can be living like that, especially with children.

“Rent can be expensive but that is just too many people to live in one house. It can’t be safe and it’s a terrible way to live.”

Another neighbour described how “intimidating” groups of men living would congregate outside. She described seeing them throw out the existing furniture and building bunk beds in the back garden

She said: “It’s been an absolute nightmare. I feel for them in some ways, having to live like this but at the same time it’s been unpleasant and intimidating for everyone else.”

At least six people were still at the £1,200 a month property in Fordyke Road when the Standard visited last night.

Tenant Bogan Ionel, 27, who came to the UK from Romania, insisted there had been “a terrible mistake”.

He said he and his wife and two children, aged three and six, were living at the property with other family members.

He said: “Normally it’s just us but the past couple of weeks we’ve had four more people stay with us while they look for a new place to live.

“Sometimes there are people who come in the morning to go to work together and we have friends over in the garden. That’s what’s confused people. But if that’s been causing a problem we’ll stop.”

Iyak Hussain, who manages the property through Royel Estates and Builders, said: “I’m absolutely shocked there could be 22 people living there. We had no idea. How would they all have fit? I’ve ever heard of that many people being in a property. We will be looking into it.

“As far as we were aware it was two couples with their children living there. If it’s true and there had been a breach of their lease they will be out.”

The property was bought as a three-bed house in 2009 for £161,000 and extended. It was put back on the market for £350,000 as a five-bedroom house in January but remains unsold.

The raids were carried out by the council as part of enforcement of its a Private Rented Licensing Scheme, where landlords must hold licences to rent out properties and adhere to strict rules.

The council has launched investigations with a view to prosecute the landlords while the cases have been referred to social services.