Labour MP exposed for renting horror flats with 'black mould and ant infestations'

Jas Athwal, a newly-elected Labour MP, is under fire this evening after a bombshell report into flats he rents out. The MP for Ilford South owns 15 rental flats, according to a report by the BBC, which makes him the biggest landlord in the House of Commons.

Mr Athwal's tenants exposed the disgusting condition inside the flats, amid claims that they had been silenced from complaining before.

In one block of seven flats, almost half of the tenants claimed they had to clean their bathroom regularly to remove black mould.

One tenant said: "The whole ceiling would be black if we didn’t clean it every few weeks.

Another resident, pointing to ants climbing up a door frame, told the BBC: “The ants are everywhere. They are on my kid’s body and on their clothes.”

One tenant claimed they had been intimidated and threatened with eviction by the letting agent if they complained about problems in their flat or started claiming benefits.

BBC's Joe Pike claimed that after the tenants started speaking to him, they received a call from the property manager.

Mr Pike said: “After receiving these calls they became hesitant about talking to me. This appeared to me to be intimidation."

Conservative member of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff, who has also visited the flats, said: "I'm deeply concerned. I worry that there are people who are Jas Athwal’s tenants who are now frightened to speak for fear of being evicted.

"We’ve heard this time and time again about how the threat of eviction is used to excuse poor maintenance of properties."

When confronted with the allegations, Mr Athwal described himself as a "renters' champion".

The investigation will lead to questions for the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto included a commitment to “prevent private renters being exploited and discriminated against”.

Mr Athwal has denied the allegations, distancing himself from the flats he owns. He said that the properties were managed by a third-party agency. The MP also denied any tenant had been threatened with eviction.

The Labour MP said in a statement to the BBC: “My properties are managed by an agency, selected for their quick response times and excellent customer service. This is evidenced by the long tenure of the tenants – over 87 years across 15 properties.

“I pride myself on being a good landlord and no tenants have ever been evicted. Repairs and improvements have been made to properties as recently as two weeks ago. To ensure tenants enjoy a secure, long-term home, rents are kept below market rate and, in many cases rents are frozen at the rate first agreed.

“Every Redbridge rental property I own is in full compliance with the landlord licence scheme, and have been since its creation. Landlords are contacted by the council when licences are due for renewal, this has not yet occurred for my properties but licences will be renewed when the notices are issued.”

Mr Athwal has been approached for comment by Express.co.uk.