- Title'Kill gentrifiers' graffiti vandals launch attacks on[Mulholland] estate agent
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- MaterialArticle
- NotesIslington Tribune filed at A-Z periodicals (Islington Local History Centre)
Police are investigating two graffiti attacks on an Upper Holloway estate agent, where slogans saying “F*** gentrification” and “Kill gentrifiers” were daubed.
Robert Mulholland, of Mulholland Estate Agents, has spoken of his shock when he came into work on Friday to find the words “F*** gentrification” in bright red spray paint on his shopfront.
And yesterday (Thursday) morning he found the words “kill gentrifiers” daubed in yellow paint on another window at his Holloway Road premises.
Mr Mulholland, an independent estate agent, feels he has been unfairly targeted by people angry about inequality and the lack of affordable housing in London.
“I was just shocked when I came in and saw it,” he told the Tribune. “It could be a campaign by another [rival] agent or it’s the anti-austerity people. Now it’s happened again I’m getting worried and my staff are worried too.
“It’s a bit unfair [to be targeted]. We’re trying to do a good job. We understand why people are p****d off. Rents are peaking and people can’t afford to live here anymore.
“But we’re a community estate agent. We want to be the guy to go to for help. We work by referral.
“I’m the only estate agent in Islington who has his own name above his shop, and I ran my own academy and apprenticeships. I only have three staff.”
Estate agents throughout London have been targeted by protests against “gentrification”, the process whereby poorer residents are forced out because they can no longer afford to live in an area.
Mr Mulholland said the eastern side of Holloway Road has become increasingly desirable in recent years, due to rising house prices and good state schools. He has just handled the sale of a three-bedroom house in Marlborough Yard, which sold for a record £1m.
Similar-looking red graffiti paint sprayed on a council information board has appeared further south, near Nag’s Head. It read: “You don’t hate Mondays, you hate capitalism.”
It is unclear whether it is related to the slogans sprayed on Mr Mulholland’s business. A Met spokesman said: “Police in Islington are investigating reports of criminal damage at business premises in Holloway Road.”
No arrests have been made. The police investigation continues.
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