Opinions split as Sheffield-born Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali locked in middle of landlord controversy
The Green Party deputy leader has faced criticism over homes he owns
A Sheffield-born politician who rose to a senior position in the national Green Party is under fire after it was discovered he was renting out two homes.
Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali - originally from Darnall but now serving as a councillor in Leeds - has been facing criticism after it was revealed that his company MA Holdings owns two rental properties in Leeds.
The Greens have previously backed a motion titled “Abolish Landlords” in which they argued that the private rental sector has failed the British people.
In response, the Green Party said that the Gipton and Harehills councillor has “acted solely in the interests of vulnerable close family members for whom he has caring responsibilities”.
"At Councillor Ali's request, we are not going to make this information public to protect his family,” a party spokesperson added.
The controversy has sparked responses from Sheffield councillors, who remain divided over the politician’s approach.
Labour councillor Minesh Parekh, who represents Crookes and Crosspool, raised concerns about the fact that Coun Ali’s properties did not appears on the Leeds Rental Standard register - a voluntary scheme to set standards for homes in the private sector.
“Councils have statutory duties for enforcing private rented housing standards and investigating breaches by landlords,” Coun Parekh added.
“Councillors make decisions about housing policy, enforcement, and landlord licensing. Should it not be considered a conflict of interest for councillors to be landlords?”
He argues that councillors already to declare financial interests, and that landlords in a policy-making decision should face the same scrutiny
He went on to say: “There seems to be much less thought about whether someone who makes money from renting out properties should be making decisions about how they as a landlord should be regulated.”
However, there have also been arguments that the backlash to Coun Ali’s properties has resulted in racist and Islamophobic abuse.
Sheffield Green councillors Mustafa Ahmed and Maroof Raouf - who represent the Burngreave and Netheredge and Sharrow wards respectively - recently met with Coun Ali to show their support.
The pair have shared a number of pictures and videos across social media, with Coun Raouf writing: “Coun Mothin Ali is a fantastic councillor and representative” when sharing a video from a visit to Leeds.
“It was a great honour to meet Mothin Ali, deputy leader of the Green Party,” Coun Ahmed added.
“People can disagree as much as they want with a person's politics but hate, racism, and Islamophobia has no place in the UK in 2026.”