The Mayor of London has backed calls for action to be taken against rogue landlord MP Jaz Athwal following revelations about the conditions of his rental properties.

Athwal has apologised and sacked the lettings agent that managed his properties after a BBC investigation revealed he was renting out flats with ant infestations and black mould and failing to respond to complaints.

The London Renters Union last week called for Athwal to resign and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he shouldn’t be excused just because he is an MP.

Khan told BBC News,  “A bad landlord is a bad landlord.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Labour MP or a normal person. If you’re a bad landlord action should be taken against you.

“I wasn’t aware of Jas’s various properties until I saw the BBC report. I think it’s right he sacked the managing agent.”

Khan said it was right that Athwal has apologised and will personally compensate his tenants, adding: “But it’s wrong that tenants, Londoners, are living in the awful accommodation that his tenants were living in.”

He added that he was glad he wasn’t in charge of discipling MPs.