Labour Party’s newly-elected MP, Jas Athwal, is under fire following reports of deplorable conditions in his rental properties. Athwal, the largest landlord in the House of Commons with 15 properties, is embroiled in controversy as tenants reveal shocking living conditions. According to the BBC, Residents in Ilford South have raised concerns about severe black mould infestations and ant problems in a block of seven flats managed by Athwal. The tenants are forced to regularly clean their ceilings to combat the toxic mould, while battling ant infestations that have rendered their living spaces unbearable. One tenant shared the distressing experience of ants crawling on their child’s body. Another resident expressed fear of eviction after speaking out against the dismal state of their flat.
Athwal said he was “shocked” and “profoundly sorry” to hear of residents’ issues, which he had not been aware of due to the properties being managed by an agency, and promised repairs and maintenance will be completed “swiftly”.
On top of the black mould, the BBC saw evidence of ant infestations in a number of the seven properties.
“The ants are everywhere,” one resident said, pointing to insects climbing up a door frame. “They are on my kid’s body and on their clothes.” Another resident said they had been threatened with eviction by the letting agent if they complained about problems in their flat or started claiming benefits.
In his first response to the BBC, Athwal did not respond to a request for interview but said: “My properties are managed by an agency, selected for their quick response times and excellent customer service. This is evidenced by the long tenure of the tenants – over 87 years across 15 properties.
“I pride myself on being a good landlord and no tenants have ever been evicted. Repairs and improvements have been made to properties as recently as two weeks ago. “To ensure tenants enjoy a secure, long-term home, rents are kept below market rate and, in many cases rents are frozen at the rate first agreed,”BBC quoted him as saying.
He added he did not take on tenants on housing benefit to avoid conflicts of interest with his role as the local council leader.
Around 60 current MPs receive income from rental properties, according to Parliament’s latest register of interests.
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