Labour MP Gurinder Singh Josan is facing criticism from fellow MPs after reports revealed he earned nearly £30,000 from a taxpayer-funded housing scheme designed to support vulnerable individuals.
Josan co-owns a five-bedroom property used to house individuals such as the homeless, drug addicts, and asylum seekers. According to a report by The Telegraph, Birmingham City Council paid £473,475 over six years to organizations managing the property, with Josan and his family receiving close to £30,000 from the arrangement.
The payments were made under the UK’s “exempt accommodation” system, meaning landlords could charge higher rents to the government and not be subject to housing benefit caps. This system has faced backlash for exploiting vulnerable people and having poor accommodations.
In 2022, now-Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticized it as a “lucrative money-spinning opportunity” for landlords.
According to The Telegraph, Josan said he is taking steps to end the contract. He initially said the arrangement was “new to me” and that he would review it. Josan was also able to avoid paying for a £1,125 property license, as it is not required for supported exempt accommodation
When elected in 2024, Josan declared interest in eight properties.
In 2024, homelessness minister Rushanara Ali told the House of Commons the government would take “firm action” against “the suffering caused by poor-quality supported housing where residents receive little or no support and landlords charge huge rents paid for by the taxpayer.” Ali resigned last year following allegations she evicted tenants and raised rents at her London property.
“Last year, Labour’s homelessness minister was forced to resign after serving her own tenants with a no-fault eviction notice,” said Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake. “Now we learn a different Labour MP has been personally profiting from a Government-funded scheme intended to support vulnerable people.”
Josan co-owns a five-bedroom property used to house individuals such as the homeless, drug addicts, and asylum seekers. According to a report by The Telegraph, Birmingham City Council paid £473,475 over six years to organizations managing the property, with Josan and his family receiving close to £30,000 from the arrangement.
The payments were made under the UK’s “exempt accommodation” system, meaning landlords could charge higher rents to the government and not be subject to housing benefit caps. This system has faced backlash for exploiting vulnerable people and having poor accommodations.
In 2022, now-Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticized it as a “lucrative money-spinning opportunity” for landlords.
According to The Telegraph, Josan said he is taking steps to end the contract. He initially said the arrangement was “new to me” and that he would review it. Josan was also able to avoid paying for a £1,125 property license, as it is not required for supported exempt accommodation
When elected in 2024, Josan declared interest in eight properties.
In 2024, homelessness minister Rushanara Ali told the House of Commons the government would take “firm action” against “the suffering caused by poor-quality supported housing where residents receive little or no support and landlords charge huge rents paid for by the taxpayer.” Ali resigned last year following allegations she evicted tenants and raised rents at her London property.
“Last year, Labour’s homelessness minister was forced to resign after serving her own tenants with a no-fault eviction notice,” said Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake. “Now we learn a different Labour MP has been personally profiting from a Government-funded scheme intended to support vulnerable people.”
