GMTU is calling for Jas Athwal to resign and for an investigation to be undertaken over housing law violations.
Greater Manchester Tenants Union stands with London Renters Union in calling for Jas Athwall to resign over the reports of his tenants, and for a standards investigation into what Jas Athwall knew about the problems in his properties.
If the Labour Party believes in upholding the rule of law, opposing discrimination, and standing up for the rights of tenants, Jas Athwal should now lose the Labour Whip, and be expelled from the Labour Party if he is found to have operated as a criminal landlord.
Many Landlords, across Manchester and throughout the UK, flout the laws which exist to protect the health and safety of tenants. They know they face very little risk of action from overstretched and under resourced local authority enforcement teams.
Lucy Powell wrong to to defend “slum landlord” MP over damp and mouldy properties without HMO licences.
On “Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips”, Lucy Powell defended Jas Athwal, callously brushing aside a comment about the death of Awaab Ishak, who died from mould exposure in Rochdale. Awaab Ishak's home had serious damp and mould problems, which were reported to the landlord for six years without them taking any effective action, leading to the death of the four year old boy. According to the BBC, in one block of 7 flats owned by Jas Athwal, every single property had mould.
Lucy Powell must also be held to account for her defence of Jas Athwal. Lucy Powell repeated the claim that Jas Athwal had no idea what was happening at his 15 rental properties. This is not an acceptable defence for any landlord leaving his tenants in a potentially dangerous and life threatening situation. It is all too common that Landlords do not care what happens in their properties, as long as they get their rental income.
Jas Athwal introduced a selective licensing scheme as leader of Redbridge Council, a position he held until elected as an MP a few weeks ago, which he has failed to adhere to. He should face an investigation into his conduct by the Labour Party and parliamentary bodies. Redbridge Council should hold an internal investigation to determine if complaints were received by their housing teams about his homes, and what was known about the licensing status of his properties by council officers.
GMTU regularly negotiates with agents and landlords, and we know landlords are the decision makers on repairs and maintenance expenditure. This is often cited by managing agencies in response to tenants' complaints. We find it very difficult to believe that Jas Athwell was unaware of the state of his properties, or the fact that they were not licenced. Agents act on behalf of the Landlord. GMTU, along with LRU, call for an investigation into Jas Athwal's claims.
Jas Athwal has admitted to breaking the law in stating that he will not rent his properties to those in receipt of benefits. This has been ruled illegal by the courts. GMTU demands that Jas Athwal be held to account for his violations of housing law. Discrimination in the private rented sector against those that receive benefits is widespread, making it difficult for some of the most vulnerable in our communities to be able to find safe and affordable housing. That an MP was also doing this, shows the depth of this problem for renters and should not be tolerated.
As a union of renters, we know the situation in Jas Athwal's flats is all too common. Mould, damp, disrepair, pests and not having the correct licences for properties are things that landlords up and down the country get away with pushing on their tenants every day. There is often little recourse that renters can take, which is why tenants unions, like GMTU and LRU, are growing in cities across the country.