A pair of rogue landlords have been told to pay more than £100,000 for renting out flats in Croydon which were due to be demolished.

Husband and wife Derek and Susan Stansbury, 63 and 52 respectively, rented out a property containing nine flats, despite a council enforcement notice ordering its demolition.

They had bought the building at auction in January 2012 and were aware that an enforcement notice was in place.

But requests from Croydon Council reminding them it needed to be demolished were ignored and the property was still rented out.

The enforcement notice had been issued to the previous owners as the building was not in accordance with the approved planning application.

At Croydon Crown Court on Friday, they were told to pay £100,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and fined £10,500.

At the same court, the couple of Ponsonby Place, Westminster, had been found guilty of failing to comply with an enforcement notice to demolish 27A Theobald Road.

Councillor Paul Scott, cabinet lead at Croydon Council for regeneration and planning, said: “I hope this case acts as a stark warning to others thinking of flouting planning law.

“We always take these offences seriously as they can blight communities and have very serious consequences.

“This should be a lesson to anybody considering going ahead with ill-conceived developments in contravention of planning directives designed to protect the local environment and neighbouring residents.”

The pair were also ordered to pay costs of £25,500 and a £240 victim surcharge.