LABOUR’S landlord homelessness minister must go, campaigners demanded today after it was revealed that she evicted tenants before hiking the rent by £700 a month.

Four tenants, who rented an east London townhouse from Bethnal Green and Stepney MP Rushanara Ali, were told in an email last November that their lease would not be renewed because the property was due to be sold, the i newspaper reported.

They were given four months’ notice to vacate the property.

But just weeks later, the property was re-listed, with the rent increased from £3,300 to £4,000 a month, the newspaper said.

Ms Ali has previously spoken out against private renters being exploited and praised her party’s Renters’ Rights Bill, saying it would “empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.”

The Bill, due to come into force next year, includes measures to ban landlords from re-listing a property at a higher rent for at least six months if they ended a tenancy claiming it was to sell the property.

Anny Cullum from tenants’ union Acorn said: “We cannot be expected to trust that Ali is an appropriate person to tackle homelessness in this country when her actions and those of other profiteering landlords are at the heart of our housing crisis, driving homelessness.

“The minister must resign, and Labour must further strengthen renters’ rights by bringing in rent controls to get a grip on ever-rising rents, and to prevent the extortionate exploitation of people’s need for decent shelter and a place to call home.”

Siân Smith, spokesperson for the London Renters Union, said: “Rushanara Ali must step down.

“Soaring rents are a leading cause of homelessness, and during the worst housing crisis in decades, it is indefensible for the Minister for Homelessness to be kicking out tenants and hiking rents.

She added: “Landlords should have no place in Parliament.”

According to the MPs’ register of interests, Ms Ali has two rental properties in London.

A source told the i newspaper that she only re-listed the townhouse after she failed to find a buyer.

A spokesperson for the MP said: “Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.”