MP Jas Athwal expressed his shock at the reported conditions and apologized for the failings.
London: Tenants in properties owned by Jas Athwal, a British-Indian Sikh Labour MP, were living in dire conditions, plagued by mold, fleas, and ants, a BBC investigation has revealed. The newly-elected 60-year-old MP has been accused of being a "slum landlord". The investigation revealed that tenants in some of Athwal's 15 rental properties in London were living in some of the worst conditions possible. As the owner of these 15 flats, Athwal is the biggest landlord in the UK House of Commons.
Athwal, who was born in Punjab and moved to Ilford with his family in 1970, has been a councilor since 2010 and previously served as the leader of the Redbridge London Borough Council in the UK.
A BBC reporter visited flats owned by Athwal above a shop in Redbridge, East London, and found black mold on bathroom ceilings, ant infestations, broken lights, and fire alarms hanging loose. A washing machine was even dumped near the stairs. "The ants are everywhere," one tenant described, pointing to the insects crawling up a door frame. Tenants said their complaints to Athwal and his property agent were ignored, and they feared eviction if they spoke out.
Athwal expressed his shock at the reported conditions and apologized for the failings. "I'm proud to rent out homes with secure tenancies at below-market rents. I'm shocked at the reported condition of a number of the properties and have asked the managing agent for an explanation and immediate action to rectify any issues. I'm profoundly sorry that tenants have been let down. Repairs and maintenance will be done swiftly. I am in the process of renewing all licenses," Athwal was quoted as saying by the BBC.
He also stated he would conduct a "survey of my tenants" and "will reimburse every tenant that is out of pocket for repairs or renewals". He added: "I will be reimbursing every tenant that is out of pocket for repairs or renewals they have had to undertake. I will be conducting a survey of my tenants, so that all issues are uncovered and I am confident each one is living in secure, comfortable homes".
