Renters' union wants MP to quit as landlord

Coming up next, a group of renters have called for Labour MP Jas Athwal to step down from his position in the House of Commons. This comes after several tenants of the flats he owns as a landlord have come forward with complaints of mould and ant infestations. One tenant even described ants crawling over their child's body and clothes.

According to reports, nearly half of the residents in one of Athwal's tower blocks have to regularly clean their bathroom ceilings to get rid of mould. This has caused Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, to speak out against the condition of Athwal's properties. He described the situation as "unacceptable" and "not good enough."

In response to a BBC investigation into his properties, Athwal announced on Saturday that he had fired his managing agent. This raised concerns for the Labour party, as they had promised to improve standards in the private rental sector in their manifesto.

When asked about the situation, the Prime Minister also expressed his disapproval. He stated that it was unacceptable for any landlord to neglect their properties, regardless of their political affiliation. He added that Athwal has taken steps to address the issues, but it is still not acceptable.

Athwal himself has apologized to his tenants, stating that he is "profoundly sorry" for letting them down. He also mentioned that he would be reviewing the way his properties are managed to prevent similar issues in the future. He later confirmed that he had parted ways with the management agency.

The London Renters' Union also spoke out against Athwal, saying that it would be hard for them to believe that the government is serious about fixing the housing crisis if he remains in his position in the House of Commons. They accused him of leaving his tenants in a dangerous and unhealthy living environment, and called for the council to investigate him for violating housing laws.

In response to the allegations, Athwal has promised to reimburse any resident who had to pay for repairs or renewals in his properties. He also mentioned that he would be conducting a survey to identify and address any other issues in his properties.

Interestingly, in 2018, Athwal had shared an article about a landlord being fined for poor living conditions and declared that they were "coming for" rogue landlords. This has caused the leader of the council, Paul Canal, to call for Athwal's resignation from his position as a councillor. He believes that his actions as a landlord are in direct conflict with his role as a councillor and that he should step down immediately.

It is worth noting that Athwal is believed to be the largest landlord among the members of the House of Commons, with 15 properties under his name.

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