Britain’s minister responsible for tackling homelessness, Rushanara Ali, has resigned after a controversy over the rent charged on a London property she owns.
Ali submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the controversy had become a distraction from the government’s housing agenda.
Her resignation followed a report by the i newspaper concerning a property in London.
The report said Ali had asked four tenants to leave the property within four months.
The property was reportedly relisted only weeks later at a rent more than £700 higher than the previous amount.
The development triggered criticism from homelessness campaigners and opposition politicians.
Several critics questioned Ali’s position as the minister responsible for tackling homelessness while she faced allegations concerning her own rental property.
Ali Maintains She Followed Legal Requirements
Ali, however, maintained that she had complied with all relevant legal requirements.
In her resignation letter, she said she had taken her responsibilities seriously and believed the facts supported her position.
She nevertheless concluded that remaining in office could distract attention from the Labour government’s work on homelessness and housing.
“It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a minister,” Ali wrote to Starmer.
She added that her continued presence in the role had become a potential distraction from the government’s “important and ambitious work.”
Starmer Thanks Resigning Minister
Starmer accepted Ali’s resignation and thanked her for her work at the housing ministry.
The prime minister particularly praised her efforts towards repealing the Vagrancy Act.
The legislation had been used for decades to criminalise certain forms of rough sleeping and begging.
Ali’s resignation places renewed attention on Britain’s housing pressures, including rising rents and homelessness.
The controversy also highlights the scrutiny ministers can face when their private property interests intersect with their public responsibilities.
Ali served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from July 2024 until her resignation on August 7, 2025.
