A Labour politician has positioned himself as a “renters advocate” despite allegations that the apartments he leases are in subpar condition.
Jas Athwal, the recently elected MP for Ilford South, possesses 15 rental units, yet some tenants have reported that they frequently need to scrub their bathroom ceilings to eliminate mould.
In an investigation initially revealed by the BBC, a resident in a complex of seven flats located in Seven Kings, Redbridge, stated that “there are ants everywhere,” including crawling on their child’s body and garments.
Andrew Boff, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, who has also inspected the properties, informed Sky News that they were in “terrible condition” and the level of maintenance was so inadequate that it posed “a risk to the residents”.
In reaction to the probe, Mr. Athwal expressed he was “surprised” to learn of the reported state of his properties, asserting that they were overseen by an agency that failed to relay any issues to him.
“I am a renters advocate,” he stated, adding, “I take pride in offering homes with secure tenancies at below-market rates.”
“I aspire for each of my tenants to enjoy high-quality accommodation; I am astonished by the condition of several properties and have requested the managing agent to provide clarity and prompt action to address any concerns.”
“I acknowledge it is my duty to resolve issues swiftly and have convened with the property management firm to comprehend the communication failures.”
“I am truly sorry that tenants have been neglected and will be reevaluating property management practices and how concerns are escalated moving forward.”
Loose electrical wiring in one of the seven flats
He assured that repairs and maintenance on the properties would be carried out “promptly”.
This revelation comes following Labour’s general election manifesto, which pledged to “revamp” the experience of private renting.
An unattached smoke detector
Previously the leader of Redbridge Council, Mr. Athwal is also mandated to possess a selective property licence to rent out the block of seven flats—a system he initiated in 2017 while in leadership.
However, Mr. Athwal conceded that he had “recently come across an email” stating that the licences were set to expire.
“I am currently in the process of renewing all licences,” he conveyed.
“As council leader, I established the most stringent landlord licensing scheme in London back in 2017 and expanded the program in 2023 and 2024—the initiative would have been even more robust if Conservative housing secretaries had not consistently diluted it.”
“In 2019, I spearheaded a campaign urging the government to abolish Section 21 evictions, further safeguarding tenants’ rights, which again was thwarted by the Conservatives.”
This information arises after the BBC discovered that the council’s public licence register indicated that none of the seven properties were licensed.
Wires exposed and dangling from the ceiling
Read more from Sky News:
Angela Rayner spotted partying in Ibiza superclub
New Labour MP proposes adjustments to winter fuel payment cut
Employers will be obligated to provide a four-day workweek
Mr. Boff further verified that there seemingly exists no record of any such licence—one that, he noted, landlords must cover costs to obtain—for the flats.
“He [Mr. Athwal] labels himself a renters advocate and even initiated the licensing system aimed at securing better terms for renters,” Mr. Boff relayed to Sky News.
“Yet, it is a licensing system that he did not utilize, while many other landlords within the London borough of Redbridge have had to pay fees to receive a licence enabling them to let their properties.”
Stay updated with the latest news from the UK and globally by following Sky News
Mr. Boff expressed that he believes Mr. Athwal’s remarks “sound like bravado” and he would have had more respect for him had “he offered an apology to tenants for the inadequate service”.
“Regrettably, he is attempting to downplay the situation, yet I have witnessed the evidence and cannot fathom how he continues to assert that tenants are receiving satisfactory service from him.
“The landlord is accountable for leasing the property. They hire an agent to simplify processes, but ultimately they remain responsible. If the managing agent is remiss in their duties, it falls on the landlord’s shoulders.”
Mr. Boff has urged both the Labour Party and Redbridge Council to investigate Mr. Athwal.
Alongside the 15 residential units, the Labour representative also leases three commercial spaces, rendering him the largest landlord within the House of Commons, as per an analysis of data from the parliament’s register of members’ interests conducted by the Financial Times.
