Fifty refugees in Manchester have found themselves shipped out of shabby homes after the Manchester Evening News tipped off the Home Office.

An investigation by the newspaper exposed poor living conditions and uncovered allegations that a landlord had forced out the original tenants to profit from higher refugee rents.

The property firm involved had a contract with Bolton Housing Agency, which allowed it to fill empty properties with refugees.

A former tenant claimed in the paper how the firm’s director told her the financial reward was greater from refugees – days before she and her two young children were evicted.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the refugees had been told to move out because the premises were not up to the required standard.

She said: “Following an inspection of the flats it was found they did not meet National Asylum Support Service specifications. All NASS contracts set out strict standards of accommodation.”

But the property firm maintained the asylum seekers left of their own accord – and the rent payments were the same, whoever was living in the properties.

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