Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali 'kicked out tenants from east London townhouse and raised rent by £700'
Rushanara Ali, 50, is said to have increased the rent on the four-bedroom property from £3,300 to £4,000 after throwing out the previous tenants.
The occupants at the home, just a short distance from the Olympic Park, were reportedly given just four months' notice to leave last November.
Weeks after they had left the property, it had been re-listed with the rent £700 a month higher than before, i paper reports.
A source close to the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney told the i the occupants were told their fixed-term tenancy would not be renewed and offered a rolling contract while the house was on the market, but chose to leave.
The property returned to the renters' market for hundreds more than the previous rent when a buyer could not be found.
Ms Ali has previously criticised 'private renters being exploited'.
She has also said the Labour government would 'empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases'.
The government's upcoming Renters' Rights Bill will prevent landlords who have ended a tenancy to sell a property from then re-listing it with higher rent until six months or more after its occupants have left.
A former tenant of the east London property, Laura Jackson, told the i paper: 'It's an absolute joke. Trying to get that much money from renters is extortion'.
The occupants were also told by letting agencies that they would be charged £2,400 for the home to be repainted and professionally cleaned.
Landlords are prevented from charging tenants for professional cleaning under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
It is understood the charges were dropped after Ms Ali was told of them.
However, Ms Jackson called them 'exploitative' and 'unfair'.
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverley said the allegations 'would be an example of the most extreme hypocrisy and she should not have the job as homelessness minister'.
A spokesperson for Ms Ali said: 'Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.'
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