Labour MP and councillor Jas Athwal is facing renewed calls to step down over the quality of his rental properties.
A BBC investigation earlier this month revealed the former Redbridge Council leader had been letting out properties that were in squalid condition. Anonymous renters told the broadcaster the flats, owned by the Ilford South MP, were covered in black mould and infested with ants.
Protestors with the Redbridge Community Action Group gathered outside the town hall in Ilford on 19 September, ahead of a full council meeting.
They carried placards demanding his resignation, which read: “Say no to rogue landlord.”
The BBC revealed that Cllr Athwal’s landlord licences were outdated, failing an initiative he introduced in 2022 during his time as leader.
Campaigner Vaseem Ahmed told the crowd: “[Prime Minister] Keir Starmer said it was unacceptable. [Mayor of London] Sadiq Khan said it was unacceptable.
“So why has no action been taken whatsoever?”
He said the government had “done nothing” to protect vulnerable residents in Redbridge, while criticising Starmer’s promises to continue funding Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
After the investigation was published, Starmer said: “What’s happened in this case is this MP has now recognised that, is taking the necessary measures to put it right. The sooner that’s done, the better, but I’m not going to pretend to you or anybody else that this is in any way acceptable.”
Cllr Athwal is Parliament’s biggest landlord with 15 declared properties. Fellow Redbridge councillor and Southend MP Bayo Alaba is the third, with seven homes to his name.
Athwal said in a previous statement he was “shocked and sickened” to learn of the state of his homes. He promptly sacked his letting agent and said he would reimburse tenants who had been “left out of pocket”.
He said: “I am shocked and sickened by the series of problems that have come to light and I am unreservedly sorry to all my tenants for the bad experience they have endured.”
The new MP added he would be issuing personal apologies and meeting with each tenant face-to-face.
Other speakers included Noor Jahan, who stood against Cllr Athwal in the July election as an independent candidate. She said: “How can [he] assist residents and electors when you yourself are contravening the rules?”
She called on the council to be more “open and transparent” with its residents.
During the full council meeting, Conservative group leader Paul Canal said he had prepared a question about rogue landlords but was not given time to speak.
In these meetings, which occur monthly, 30 minutes are put aside for councillors to ask questions of the administration. The time limit ran out just before Cllr Canal could ask his, but he was told by mayor Sheila Bain responses would be emailed to those who missed their chance.
He has made repeated calls for Cllr Athwal to stand down, arguing his position as a councillor has become “untenable”.
Cllr Athwal was elected as the MP for Ilford South in July, succeeding Labour MP Sam Tarry. He stepped down as the leader of the council later that month, but has stayed on as a councillor in the Mayfields ward.
He did not attend last night’s full council meeting.
Kam Rai, the former deputy, succeeded Cllr Athwal as leader in July. He was formally promoted to the top job after an internal selection process by Redbridge Labour.
Redbridge Labour and Jas Athwal’s office have been contacted for comment.
