Labour MP Jas Athwal sacks letting agent after mould scandal

The BBC discovered flats owned by Mr Athwal contained soiled communal areas, lights that didn’t work and fireplace alarms hanging unfastened from the ceiling.

In a single block of seven flats owned by Mr Athwal practically half the tenants stated they needed to often clear their rest room ceilings to take away mould.

An ant infestation was identified by one resident, who had bugs climbing up a door body and stated the ants had been on their youngster’s physique and garments.

When Mr Athwal was first approached by the BBC on Friday, he stated he had not beforehand been conscious of those points and defended the letting agent, referred to by tenants as “Raymond”.

Later the identical day, he issued one other assertion saying he was “profoundly sorry” that his tenants had been let down and would guarantee repairs had been accomplished “swiftly”.

The MP additionally admitted his flats didn’t have the proper property licences required underneath a scheme he launched as Redbridge Council chief, having earlier claimed to the BBC that he had complied with the foundations.

Now, in a 3rd assertion, Mr Athwal says he’ll substitute the administration company inside 48 hours, including he “might be issuing every tenant with a private apology and assembly with them urgently”.

He stated: “I’m shocked and sickened by the sequence of issues which have come to mild and I’m unreservedly sorry to all my tenants for the dangerous expertise they’ve endured.

“I might be reimbursing each tenant that’s out of pocket for repairs or renewals they’ve needed to undertake.

“I might be issuing every tenant with a private apology and assembly with them urgently.”

Responding to requires Mr Athwal to give up as a councillor, Home of Commons chief Lucy Powell stated she understood he was “livid” as he “he didn’t know that is occurring in his housing inventory”.

Talking to Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she stated: “I take at face worth what he stated in the previous few days and he is obtained to place that proper.

“He is completely obtained to place these issues proper and that is why he is sacked the managing agent, however I am not right here to defend his actions.”

Ms Powell added Labour was bringing ahead a “a lot strengthened” Renters Reform Invoice when parliament returns subsequent week to “sort out the scourge of dangerous landlords”.

In 2018, Mr Athwal – who led Redbridge Council from 2014 till he grew to become an MP final month – shared an article a few native landlord being fined by the council, writing, exterior: “Rogue landlords, we’re coming for you.”

He’s nonetheless a councillor however stood down from his position as council chief following the final election, the place he stood on Labour’s 2024 manifesto included a dedication to “forestall non-public renters being exploited and discriminated towards”.