The UK’s homelessness minister, Rushanara Ali, is facing mounting pressure to resign following claims she evicted tenants from her east London property, only to re-list it at a significantly higher rent shortly after.
According to a report by the i Paper, four tenants living in a four-bedroom house owned by Ali received a four-month notice in November last year, stating the property was being sold and their lease would not be renewed. The tenants had been paying £3,300 a month.
But once the tenants vacated the home, they claim the property was relisted for nearly £4,000 a month, after no buyer was found. The original sale listing had reportedly been unsuccessful, prompting the relisting.
This revelation comes as a renters’ rights bill, expected to come into effect next year, will prohibit landlords from terminating tenancies under the guise of selling, only to re-let the same property at a higher price.
“It beggars belief that after months of dither and delay, the government’s own homelessness minister has profited from the underhand tactics the renters’ rights bill is meant to outlaw,” said Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter.
Ali, who has previously condemned unfair rental practices and championed stronger protections for tenants, is now accused of gross hypocrisy.
The Labour government will “empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases”, she has previously declared.
Now, figures from across the political spectrum are calling for her resignation.
- James Cleverly, shadow housing secretary, called it “the most extreme hypocrisy” and insisted Ali should step down.
- Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party Chair, said: “You can’t say those things, then do the opposite in practice, as a landlord. She’s got to resign.”
- Peter Wishart, SNP deputy leader at Westminster, said Labour leader Keir Starmer must act, describing the incident as “shameful.”
Criticism Within Labour
The backlash hasn’t come only from outside Labour. “Seems an appropriate time to reiterate MPs should not be landlords, and landlords should not be Labour MPs,” said Jess Barnard, former Young Labour chair and NEC member.
Martin Abrams, a Labour councillor in Lambeth, echoed the outrage, posting: “You couldn’t make this up! Rushanara Ali should resign #LandlordsOutOfLabour.”
The property in question is located near Ali’s Bethnal Green and Stepney constituency. It was originally listed for sale at £894,995, according to reports, and the price was reduced in February after not selling.
A source close to Ali told the BBC that:
- The tenancy was fixed-term
- The property was listed for sale while tenants were still living there
- Tenants were told they could remain on a rolling contract, but chose to move out
- The property was relisted for rent only after failing to sell
Ali’s spokesperson added: “Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.”
With pressure mounting and public scrutiny intensifying, this controversy places Labour leadership in the spotlight.
“Once this shameful story broke, Labour’s homelessness minister should have immediately resigned… this is now a direct test of Keir Starmer; he needs to sack her immediately,” said Wishart.
As the public debates whether ministers should be landlords at all, this case is likely to reignite calls for stricter rules on MPs’ private interests, especially when those interests appear to contradict their public duties.
