Jas Athwal: Labour MP 'profoundly sorry' over state of properties

A Labour MP has mentioned he’s “shocked” and “profoundly sorry” after it was revealed flats he rents out had black mould and ant infestations.

Jas Athwal, who grew to become the MP for Ilford South in July, mentioned his tenants had been “let down”, and pledged that repairs and upkeep work could be accomplished “swiftly”.

He additionally mentioned he had not beforehand been conscious of the problems by highlighted in a BBC report as a result of properties being managed by an company.

Paul Canal, Conservative chief for Redbridge Council, in north-east London, known as for Mr Athwal to resign as a councillor “instantly”, describing the situations of properties owned by Mr Athwal as a “shame”.

“His position as a councillor is untenable,” Mr Canal mentioned.

He mentioned he had known as for Redbridge Council to research whether or not Mr Athwal had breached its code of conduct, echoing an analogous name made by Andrew Boff, a Conservative member of the London Meeting.

Mr Athwal owns 15 properties, making him the largest landlord within the Home of Commons. The BBC discovered flats owned by him contained soiled communal areas, lights that didn’t work and fireplace alarms hanging free from the ceiling.

One resident mentioned they’d been threatened with eviction by the property’s letting agent once they complained.

Mr Canal mentioned he could be reporting the administration company to the police for “threatening behaviour”.

Mr Athwal mentioned: “I do know it is my duty to have points addressed as quickly as they come up and have met the property administration firm to know failures in communication.

“I am profoundly sorry that tenants have been let down and can be reviewing the property administration and the way issues are escalated going ahead.”

The Labour MP additionally admitted that his flats didn’t have the proper property licences underneath a scheme he launched because the chief of Redbridge Council.

In a prolonged assertion, he mentioned it had been his understanding that his property licences had been updated, however had “not too long ago seen an electronic mail which shared that licences are because of expire” and was “within the strategy of renewing all licences”.

However Mr Canal mentioned Mr Athwal’s licencing points had been “merely scandalous hypocrisy”.

He known as on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to withdraw the whip whereas Mr Athwal was investigated.

Labour’s 2024 basic election manifesto included a dedication to “stop personal renters being exploited and discriminated in opposition to”.

Richard Blakeway, the housing ombudsman, mentioned there was “a severe hole that must be closed” whereby social housing tenants might take complaints to an ombudsman, however personal tenants couldn’t.

Chatting with BBC Radio 4’s At the moment programme, he mentioned it was “welcome” that the federal government had indicated it will compel landlords to change into members of a redress scheme.

He added that the present customary for a good house was “a really low bar” and “outdated”.

“So there must be a elementary rethink of what’s a good house within the twenty first century.”

Mr Athwal has described himself as a “renters’ champion”, saying he prided himself on being landlord who had by no means evicted a tenant.

Redbridge Council mentioned it was conscious of the state of affairs with Mr Athwal’s properties, and that whereas it will not touch upon particular person circumstances, it handled all landlords who wanted a licence “equally”.