- Written by Noah Vickers
- Local Democracy Reporting Service
image source, Getty Images
City Hall has suggested that 4,000 homes could be built with proceeds from the sale of Kremlin-related properties in the capital.
Sadiq Khan called for further crackdowns on properties owned by Russians with ties to Vladimir Putin.
In a letter to Housing Secretary Michael Gove, the Mayor of London says ministers should “act urgently” to sell properties belonging to “Putin’s cronies” and use the proceeds to support people in need. I wrote.
City Hall has suggested that 4,000 housing units could be built with proceeds from the sale of Kremlin-related properties in the capital.
The government announced it had sanctioned 1,700 individuals and entities.
Khan’s intervention comes a day after the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He called on ministers to “act quickly to seize properties purchased by Putin’s cronies and ensure that the proceeds are used to benefit people in need.”
In 2022, £1.1bn of real estate was found to have been purchased by Russians accused of corruption and links to the Kremlin.
More than 4,000 low-cost homes could be made available if £1.1bn of properties identified by Transparency International as purchased by Russians accused of corruption and Kremlin links in 2022 are sold, according to new City Hall analysis. Sufficient funding will be provided. houses.
“This could include providing affordable accommodation for some Ukrainians who fled Ukraine in the wake of Putin’s invasion and have made London their home,” the mayor said. Ta.
Mr Khan confirmed that the government had created a register of overseas entities buying and selling property in the UK, and remained concerned that financial trusts could still be used to hide property ownership.
A government spokesperson said it had introduced the largest and toughest sanctions ever imposed on a major economy.
“We want to do everything in our power to ensure that people with ties to the Putin regime cannot benefit from the UK property market, which is why we are taking steps to clean up the sector.”
“This includes consultations to increase transparency in property ownership trusts and clarify who truly owns our properties. We are considering all possible responses and will I will respond quickly.”
Mr Khan also told Mr Gove that he was “alarmed by the Government’s announcement on the abolition of the Ukrainian family system”, adding: “Ukrainians who are still experiencing unimaginable horrors in their homeland have already “They should be able to join their families who have been evacuated.” England”.
However, the Interior Ministry clarified earlier this week that “Ukrainian nationals who were eligible under the Ukrainian family system can still apply for housing for Ukraine.”
“Families settled here can also continue to sponsor family members coming to the UK under the Home for Ukraine scheme.”