Lord Alli, a prominent Labour donor, evicted a family of five from one of his rental properties before raising the rent by nearly £1,000 a month. The family, who lived in a five-bedroom townhouse in north London for four years, were paying £4,800 monthly. Shortly after receiving a section 21 “no fault” eviction notice in June, the property was re-listed for £6,000 a month, reflecting a 25% increase.
Despite the existing tenants offering to pay the increased rent, their proposal was declined. The townhouse was subsequently re-let to new tenants for £5,700 per month, a 19% increase. This situation arises amidst discussions about the government’s intention to abolish no-fault evictions under a forthcoming renters’ rights bill, which may also place restrictions on landlords relisting properties at higher rents for a period after an eviction.
Waheed Alli, whose estimated net worth is £200 million, has been a significant financial contributor to the Labour Party, donating over £500,000 since 2020. His involvement in the party has drawn attention, particularly in light of the gifts he provided to party leaders and his connection to an £18 million penthouse previously owned by him.
No-fault evictions are highlighted as a major contributor to homelessness, according to the charity Shelter, as they enable landlords to evict tenants with minimal notice and no provided reason. The evicted family expressed their desire to remain in the property for the sake of their children’s education and requested an extension to avoid disruption, but their appeals were unsuccessful.
In the wake of these developments, a spokesperson for Lord Alli stated that he does not manage the property in question and claimed the decision was not financially motivated. Recently, the topic of evictions was further spotlighted by the resignation of Rushanara Ali, the homelessness minister, who had faced scrutiny over her own eviction of tenants from a separate property.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/sep/13/labour-donor-lord-alli-evicted-tenants-higher-rent