Key Highlights
- Dr Faisal Maassarani, a prominent GP in Knowsley and Sefton, has been linked to the purchase of asylum seeker hotels.
- Tenants were threatened with eviction from their homes when private landlords were approached by an agent promoting asylum seeker deals.
- The BBC investigation suggests the use of Serco hotels as asylum accommodation led to illegal evictions attempts in Liverpool.
- Dr Maassarani maintains he had no part in the day-to-day running of the companies involved, nor did he derive financial benefit from them.
Investigation Reveals Complex Web of Property Investments and Asylum Accommodation Deals
In a recent investigative report by BBC North West Investigations, it has come to light that Dr Faisal Maassarani, a well-known General Practitioner in Knowsley and Sefton, is intricately linked with the purchase and operation of asylum seeker hotels across Liverpool. This revelation comes amidst ongoing concerns over the treatment and accommodation of asylum seekers in the UK.
Background on Schloss Roxburghe Holdings
Between 2021 and 2022, a company founded by Dr Maassarani, Schloss Roxburghe Holdings (SRH), acquired approximately £5 million worth of freeholds from property developer Elliot Lawless. This acquisition set the stage for what would become a controversial series of events involving the use of asylum seeker hotels in Liverpool.
Eviction Attempts and Tenants’ Plight
In March 2023, Andrew Lewis, an IT worker living in Parliament Place in Liverpool, received a letter from SRH. The letter informed him that he had to vacate his flat due to “urgent fire safety works.” Lewis, along with other tenants, found themselves caught between the need for safety and the potential intrusion of asylum seekers into their homes.
“People were afraid, panicking… and didn’t want to be evicted,” said Lewis. “They put it vague enough to make us assume we could come back in again.” The tenants did not know about the plans to move asylum seekers into their homes or that these plans had been under discussion for up to three months.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
The BBC’s investigation further suggests that some private landlords were approached by an agent promoting asylum seeker deals. In February 2023, an email was sent to some of the private landlords in Parliament Place offering a guaranteed £435 per month for up to seven years if they agreed to host asylum seekers.
However, Liverpool City Council faced pressure from the Home Office and Serco about the use of the Seel Street hotel due to its unsuitable location. This led to a plan to move asylum seekers into Parliament Place, which was later shelved following significant objections from tenants.
Dr Maassarani’s Denials
In a statement to BBC Merseyside, Dr Maassarani denied any involvement in the running or management of Schloss Roxburghe Holdings. He stated that he derived no financial benefit from it and was not involved in any communications with tenants at Parliament Place.
“He is neither a party, defendant or respondent”, said the spokesman for Dr Maassarani, regarding the injunction proceedings involving Queensland Place, another of SRH’s properties facing illegal eviction allegations.
Broader Implications and Calls for Scrutiny
The incident at Parliament Place has raised significant questions about how asylum seeker accommodation deals are managed. Liverpool Riverside’s Labour MP Kim Johnson expressed concern, stating: “It’s not good enough. I think there needs to be more investigation and scrutiny of how contracts are awarded and the whole procurement process.”
The Home Office has declined to comment on its providers’ commercial relationships, leaving many questions unanswered. As the debate over asylum seeker accommodation continues, the role of private property investors like Dr Maassarani remains a critical point of discussion.
