Labour's homelessness minister 'evicted tenants and hiked rent by £700 a month'

Labour's homelessness minister evicted tenants from her townhouse before hiking the monthly rent by £700, it has been claimed. Rushanara Ali previously rented the four-bedroom property in east London for £3,300 a month.

But after kicking out the four people living at the townhouse, she went on to relist it for £4,000 a month, according to The i Paper. Tenant Laura Jackson, a self-employed restaurant owner, said she received an email in November telling her their lease would not be renewed and giving them four months' notice to leave.

Weeks after moving out, she said she saw the house had been put back up for rent for nearly £4,000 a month.

The 33-year-old told the newspaper: "It's an absolute joke. Trying to get that much money from renters is extortion".

The property was managed on the Labour MP's behalf by lettings agencies Jack Barclay Estates and Avenue Lettings.

Ms Jackson also claimed the firms attempted to charge them nearly £2,000 for the house to be repainted and £395 for professional cleaning.

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords are prohibited from demanding money from their tenants for professional cleaning and are also not allowed to ask for cash for repainting unless there has been serious damage.

Ms Jackson said when the tenants told the agencies they knew the landlord was an MP the fees were dropped.

Tory shadow Housing Secretary, James Cleverly, called on Ms Ali to consider her position.

He said the allegations "would be an example of the most extreme hypocrisy and she should not have the job as homelessness minister".

The homelessness minister has previously spoken out against "private renters being exploited" and said the Labour Government will "empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases".

Labour's Renters' Rights Bill, which will become law next year, prohibits landlords who have ended a tenancy in order to sell a property from relisting it for higher rent until at least six months after tenants have moved out.

A source close to Ms Ali said her tenants were told their tenancy would not be renewed and offered a rolling contract before the house went up for sale.

They added that the townhouse was only put back up for rent after she did not find a buyer.

A spokesperson for Ms Ali said: "Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements."