In June, Lord Alli reportedly served a section 21 “no-fault” eviction notice to a family of five, forcing them to leave their home of four years. Following the eviction, the rent for the flat was reportedly raised by £1,000 a month.
The family told the i paper that they had hoped to stay an extra month to avoid disrupting their children’s schooling and 11+ exams but were refused. They also claimed that a new tenant was eventually placed in the flat for less than what they had offered, suggesting the eviction was not solely motivated by money.
The eviction comes as the Labour Renters’ Rights Bill is progressing through parliament. The bill will ban landlords from ending tenancies and relisting properties for at least six months, and it will outlaw no-fault evictions altogether.
Downing Street declined to comment. Lord Alli has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to Labour and was granted a security pass to Downing Street last year despite holding no official government role.
This follows similar controversy in recent months, including the resignation of Rushanara Ali, the former homelessness minister, who was criticised for giving tenants notice and raising the rent.
Sir James Cleverly, the Conservative shadow housing secretary, said:
“This is another example of Labour saying one thing and doing another. They are planning to kill the private rental market, hike up property taxes, and they’re looking at ramping up inheritance tax on family homes.”
The episode raises questions about landlord practices among senior figures and the timing of reforms intended to protect tenants across the UK.
