How Many Properties Does Rushanara Ali Have? Homelessness Minister Accused of Hiking Rent by £700 After Evicting Tenants

Rushanara Ali, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, stands accused of the very practices she publicly condemns after reports emerged that she evicted tenants from her rental property before hiking the monthly rent from £3,300 to nearly £4,000.

The 50-year-old MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, who has been homelessness minister since Labour's July 2024 election victory, now faces mounting calls for her resignation from across the political spectrum.

The Property Portfolio Under the Microscope

According to her parliamentary Register of Members' Financial Interests, as of December 2024, Rushanara owns two residential properties in London, plus a further co‑owned residential property acquired with a family member in 2020. This totals three London-based properties, of which one is co-owned.

The controversy centres on her four-bedroom townhouse, located less than a mile from London's Olympic Park in the heart of East London.

She purchased this particular property in 2014 for £300,000, which was less than its current asking price. Having initially listed it for sale at £914,995 last November, she reduced the price to £894,995 in February.

Eviction and Rent Increase Allegations

Reports state that in November 2024, Rushanara gave four tenants four months' notice that their fixed‑term lease would not be renewed, citing an intent to sell the property.

After the tenants vacated, the property was relisted with a monthly rent increased from around £3,300 to nearly £4,000—a rise of approximately £700.

Agents reportedly attempted to charge nearly £2,000 for repainting and £395 for professional cleaning, which are prohibited under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. The fees were dropped once Ali's identity as landlord became known.

Backlash and Accusations of Hypocrisy

Critics across the political spectrum denounce Rushanara Ali's actions. The Shadow Housing Secretary, James Cleverly, called it 'extreme hypocrisy' and said she 'should not have the job as homelessness minister.'

SNP Deputy Leader Peter Wishart and others have publicly stated that the controversy should be a test of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership, with calls for her resignation growing.

Former Young Labour chair Jess Barnard also said: 'Seems an appropriate time to reiterate MPs should not be landlords, and landlords should not be Labour MPs.'

Labour councillor Martin Abrams, representing Lambeth, posted on social media: 'You couldn't make this up! Rushanara Ali should resign #LandlordsOutOfLabour.'

Ben Twomey, CEO of Generation Rent, commented:

'These allegations are shocking and a wake-up call to the Government on the need to push ahead as quickly as possible to improve protections for renters.'

'It is bad enough when any landlord turfs out their tenant to hike up the rent, or tries their luck with unfair claims on the deposit, but the minister responsible for homelessness knows only too well about the harm caused by this behaviour.'

Legal Defence & Legislative Context

A spokesperson for her maintains that 'Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.' He also emphasises that tenants were offered a rolling tenancy while the property was marketed for sale—a proposal tenants declined. The property was relisted for rent only after failing to sell.

The controversy arises amid the progress of Labour's Renters' Rights Bill, expected to come into force in 2026. The Bill aims to:

• Ban Section 21 'no‑fault' evictions
• Prevent landlords from re‑letting a property at increased rent within a 'restricted period' (proposals cite six to twelve months before relisting)
• Limit rent increases to once a year and align them with market rates.

Some critics point out that Rushanara Ali's actions appear to undermine the very protections her department has championed.

What Happens Next?

As public pressure mounts, the controversy threatens to overshadow Labour's broader housing reform agenda. Housing advocates and MPs from multiple parties are now calling for clarity on whether ministers such as Rushanara Ali can remain credible champions of reforms they appear to flout personally.

The Renters' Reform Coalition has called for Rushanara Ali to 'recuse herself from any discussions' on the legislation within government, while campaigners continue pushing for her resignation.

With Labour's housing reforms already facing scrutiny over implementation timelines and concerns about court capacity, this personal scandal involving the minister responsible for homelessness could prove a significant political liability for Sir Keir Starmer's government.

The question now facing Westminster is whether Rushanara Ali's position remains tenable, or if mounting pressure will force another ministerial resignation from Labour's ranks.

As public trust in housing policy faces mounting pressure, the government must navigate potential fallout. Housing advocates and MPs alike call for clarity: will ministers such as Rushanara Ali remain in charge of reforms they are now seen as personally flouting?