Nirpaul Riat stripped of OBE after £300,000 fine
The honour was withdrawn by King Charles following a Cabinet Office finding that the landlord’s conduct discredited the honours system.
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King Charles has withdrawn the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire awarded to landlord Nirpaul Riat, after the Cabinet Office said his conduct brought the honours system into disrepute, as reported by the Standard.
Background to the honour removal
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Riat received the OBE in 2011 for services to charity and to the Punjabi community, according to the Standard. The honour recognised his fundraising for air‑ambulance services, Thames Valley Crime Stoppers and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Legal penalties and council action
In 2023 Isleworth Crown Court fined Riat £300,000 for renting out homes in “terrible conditions” for more than 15 years, the Standard reported. The court found he had illegally converted houses into flats and let outbuildings to vulnerable tenants, resulting in damp, mould, limited light, erratic heating and no hot water.
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I am pleased to learn that Nirpaul Riat has been stripped of his OBE.
Tom Bruce, deputy leader, Hounslow Council
Council’s role and next steps
Tom Bruce, deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said the council had formally requested the rescission of Riat’s honour and that the decision sends a clear message that exploiting tenants will not be tolerated, as reported by the Standard. The council said it will continue to use every measure at its disposal to protect tenants and hold rogue landlords to account.
Questions this report answers
+Why was Nirpaul Riat’s OBE removed?
The Cabinet Office confirmed that Riat’s conduct, including renting properties in terrible condition for over 15 years, brought the honours system into disrepute. King Charles acted on that finding and withdrew the honour, as reported by the Standard.
+What financial penalty did Riat face before the honour was stripped?
In 2023 Isleworth Crown Court imposed a £300,000 fine on Riat for illegal conversions and substandard housing. The fine was one of the largest ever levied on a West London landlord, according to the Standard.
+What role did Hounslow Council play in the decision?
Hounslow Council, through deputy leader Tom Bruce, formally requested that Riat’s OBE be rescinded. The council submitted the request to the Cabinet Office, which confirmed the honour’s removal, as reported by the Standard.
+What does the decision mean for other landlords in the area?
The removal of the OBE alongside the large fine signals that landlords who breach housing standards may face both severe financial penalties and loss of state honours. Hounslow Council said it will continue to protect tenants and hold rogue landlords to account.
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