Furious resident blasts multi-millionaire wife of former PM Tony Blair who ‘makes tenant homeless’ in push to hike rents
Tenant Simon Jackson faceless homelessness after being turfed out of Manchester property and says Mrs Blair must help to manage it properly
CHERIE Blair has been accused of greed amid claims of rent-hiking at a block of flats which forms part of her family’s £32million property empire.
The wife of ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair bought the complex for £650,000 two years ago — with son Euan, 32, also investing in it.
At least two tenants claim they are being kicked out because they are paying lower rents than those who have recently moved in.
Both said they were rocked to learn that they were being evicted — so their apartments can be rented again for £40 a month more.
Simon Jackson, 26, who works in merchandising and faces being made homeless, stormed: “Shame on you, Cherie. I work about 50 hours a week to earn a decent living and you want to take my home away.
“This is just greed on the part of Cherie Blair. She is a multi-millionaire. Does she actually need more money? What about us hard-working folk? All for £40 or £50? It’s disgusting.”
He and his girlfriend moved into the £450-a-month one- bedroom apartment in the block in March last year.
They later split but Simon continued to live there.
He said after being slapped with an eviction notice: “The agents tried to get me to come into the office to sign a new six-month contract. But they refused to say how much the rent would be.
“They would not tell me the amount verbally, so I am sure it would have been at least £500 – as that is what others in the block are paying.”
He fumed: “This was the perfect opportunity to kick me out so they can hike up the price.”
Simon told how he was accused of falling behind with his rent.
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He said: “I work to make sure I can pay. I keep the place tidy. I’ve never, ever missed one month’s rent.”
He even kept an email — seen by The Sun on Sunday — that showed no rent arrears when background checks were made on him.
Simon said: “How are the youth of today supposed to survive and earn a living in an honest way when we get treated like this?
“On top of that, Cherie should be in charge – she’s not really getting on at them to manage the properties properly.”
His eviction notice was from MCR Property Group, which manages the block on behalf of Oldbury Residential, the company owned by Cherie, 62, and son Euan.
Simon claims MCR seized its chance to give him the boot when he told them girlfriend Danielle — who was also on the tenancy — had moved out.
He said he was asked to submit proof he could afford the rent on his own. Simon said: “I was paying for most of it myself anyway when my ex-girlfriend was living with me.
“I thought I was doing the right thing telling them she had moved out. But now I wish I hadn’t.”
He has been given until the end of the month to quit the flat.
Simon said he was terrified he will have nowhere to live.
He is having to throw himself on the mercy of Manchester city council in the hope of getting a housing association property.
A dad of one who has lived for two years in the block in Urmston, five miles from Manchester city centre, told how he is also being evicted. He claims he returned from a hospital appointment to find locks had been changed.
The tenant, who does not want to be named, said he too was told his contract was now void because his girlfriend had moved out.
The agents then dropped the bombshell that he had been sent an eviction notice — which he claims never to have received.
He said: “I never missed a payment but I had no warning.
“I came in one day and the locks were changed. I had to go crash at a friend’s house until I got it sorted.
“I saw about 15 tenants in that block coming and going. The building was so poorly managed. I was there for two years so I can’t have been a bad tenant.”
A neighbour renting an almost identical one-bed flat to Simon’s confirmed she was paying more for it — £490 a month. She moved into the block in July.
The rents row emerged just days after Mr Blair, 63, said he was considering a return to public life nine years after he stepped down as Labour PM.
His hint at a comeback follows years of criticism at him making millions thanks to his status as a former Premier.
He is estimated to have raked in £20million. But he announced he is shutting down most of his business ventures and will hand over the bulk of their financial reserves to his charitable work.
He and his family own a string of homes and flats. They include one in central London worth £8.5million.
Another is a £10million Grade II listed mansion in Buckinghamshire.
During his reign as PM, Mr Blair launched a crackdown on rogue landlords and strengthened tenants’ rights.
When he swept to power in 1997 Labour had pledged in its manifesto: “We will provide protection where most needed — for tenants in houses of multiple occupation.” Compulsory licensing of landlords was brought in.
And there was a blitz on those claiming housing benefits for tenants who then made life hell for other residents.
Mr Blair told the party’s 2001 conference: “Anti-social tenants and their anti-social landlords who make money out of abusing housing benefit, while making life hell for the community, should lose their right to it.”
The Blairs’ company Oldbury Residential Ltd boasts a total of 31 flats in Manchester and nearby Stockport.
They are worth a total of around £2million. After the purchase of Simon’s block it was at the centre of controversy amid complaints about overflowing rubbish.
Last week barrister Cherie represented landlords as they mounted a High Court battle against a tax increase on buy-to-let properties.
Two were demanding a judicial review claiming the planned levy is unfair. A judge at London’s Royal Courts of Justice rejected their plea.
The Sun on Sunday approached Cherie Blair’s office for a comment about Simon and his fellow tenant’s claims.
Our inquiry was passed to the firm that manages the block. Although Simon showed us an email clearing him of having rent arrears, managing agents MCR said he had a history of debt.
A spokesman for MCR said in a statement: “We manage the property on behalf of Oldbury Residential.
“There have been historic issues of debt and late payment of the rent, together with abuse and aggression towards staff.
“That is why we have given Mr Jackson two months notice to leave.”
When asked if the company would like to discuss this with our reporter, the firm did not respond.
£32million property portfolio
THE Blairs own property valued at around £32million, including flats and Sir John Gielgud’s old home.
A house in London’s Connaught Square cost them £3.65million in 2004.
It is now worth £8.5million.
