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Labour homelessness minister, British Bangladeshi political leader Rushanara Ali, is facing intense scrutiny following revelations that she evicted tenants from her East London townhouse before re-listing it for a significant rent increase. The controversy, first reported by The i Paper, has sparked accusations of hypocrisy, given Ali's public stance on protecting renters from exploitation.
Rushanara Ali, the first British-Bangladeshi MP, seems to be continuously followed by various controversies, including the recent Grenfell Tower issue.
According to reports, Ali, who has served as Minister for Homelessness since Labour's election in July 2024, did not renew the lease for four tenants at her four-bedroom townhouse near London’s Olympic Park. The tenants, including Laura Jackson, a self-employed restaurant owner, were given four months' notice in November to vacate the property, which they were renting for £3,300 a month.
Just weeks after the tenants moved out, Jackson discovered the property had been re-advertised for rent at nearly £4,000 a month—a monthly increase of £700. The i Paper subsequently confirmed that new tenants had moved in four or five months prior, paying the higher rate. This comes as a direct contradiction to the spirit of Labour's own Renters' Rights Bill, which is slated to become law next year. The bill aims to prevent landlords from relisting a property for a higher rent for at least six months after a tenant has been asked to leave to facilitate a sale.
A source close to Ali stated that the MP had initially planned to sell the property and only decided to rent it out again after failing to find a buyer. A spokesperson for Ali maintained that she "complied with all relevant legal requirements," though this has not quelled the criticism.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and renters' rights advocates alike. Conservative Shadow Housing Secretary, James Cleverly, called the allegations "the most extreme hypocrisy," suggesting Ali should resign from her position.
Adding to the controversy, the letting agencies managing the property on Ali's behalf—Jack Barclay Estates and Avenue Lettings—attempted to charge the outgoing tenants nearly £2,000 for repainting and £395 for professional cleaning. Both charges are prohibited under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, which classifies minor wear and tear as a landlord's responsibility and bans fees for professional cleaning. Ms. Jackson, who found the charges "ridiculous and unfair," claims the fees were dropped only after she pointed out that their landlord was a Labour MP. "If we hadn't known the charges were unlawful, we would have had to pay them. It's exploitative," she said, highlighting the conflict of interest she feels exists with MPs also being landlords.
The property, which Ali purchased in 2014, was also recently listed for sale at £894,995, over £300,000 more than her original purchase price. The sale price had been reduced from an initial asking price of £914,995 in February.
The controversy is a significant challenge for Ali, whose role as homelessness minister involves tackling the very issues she is being accused of contributing to. Ben Twomey, the chief executive of Generation Rent, a renters' rights campaign group, called the allegations "shocking" and a "wake-up call" for the government to push forward with its new tenant protections.
Source-The i Paper
