The owners of a corner shop in Brighton have been ordered to turn their basement back into a storeroom.
They had converted it into a flat without permission and converted it so badly that it was unfit for human habitation.
Sussex Police found that the basement of Nisa Local in Edward Street, Brighton, was being used as a flat and reported it to Brighton and Hove City Council.
The council said that the basement received hardly any natural light, did not have proper private facilities and was substandard.
It has served an enforcement notice on the owners telling them to return it to use as a storeroom.
Councillor Lynda Hyde chairman of the planning committee, said: “It is good to see the police and council working together to bring this appalling situation to our attention.
“The flat in the basement is extremely cramped and not fit for human habitation.
“While the owners have been given time by council officers to return the space to its previous use as a storage area, we will not hesitate to take further action if our requests are ignored.”
