Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ordered Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to investigate a ‘mass eviction’ scandal.

Hundreds of tenants are facing eviction from flats owned by property tycoon Asif Aziz’s company Criterion Capital.

Criterion is accused of evicting tenants ahead of the abolition of Section 21 in the Renters’ Rights Act in May.

Eviction notices

Eviction notices were issued to 130 residents at Britannia Point in Colliers Wood by the company founded by Aziz, who has a £9billion property portfolio in the UK and Europe.

And the issue was raised by local MP Siobhain McDonagh (main picture) at Prime Minister’s Questions, prompting the PM to take action.

The largest mass eviction by a private landlord in decades.”

“Silently and in semi-secrecy London and the South East of England are experiencing the largest mass eviction by a private landlord in decades,” she told MPs.

“Those affected have done nothing wrong. They have paid their rent, looked after their homes and worked hard. They are simply victims of a voracious landlord who always wants more.”

I’m proud to be abolishing Section 21.”

Starmer responded: “Renters should have security and I condemn any unfair evictions. I’m proud to be abolishing Section 21, a practice that has pushed thousand of households into homelessness.

“I’ll make sure the Housing Minister looks at the case she has raised.”

No policy

Criterion issued a statement saying there had been no mass evictions. “A limited number of statutory notices were lawfully served, in full compliance with the Housing Act 2004, in respect of periodic tenancies held by private tenants paying market rents.

“There has been no policy to clear Britannia Point and no attempt to accelerate action ahead of legislative reform,” it said.

“Only a small proportion of tenants at that building have been served notice, and no fixed-term tenancy has been terminated prematurely. The overwhelming majority of residents remain unaffected.”