The Green Party’s candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election has come under fire for alleged hypocrisy in her real estate practices. Reports by The Mail on Sunday reveal that the candidate, known for her strict stance on housing, has been aggressively active in the property market.
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has taken a firm stand against private landlords, advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy and stringent rent controls.
However, their candidate, 34-year-old Hannah Spencer, has accumulated a property portfolio valued at £1.2 million. She has also shared advice on how to exploit first-time homebuyers, flip properties for profit, and pressure potential buyers.
Spencer has been vocal on platforms like Mumsnet, advising sellers to steer clear of first-time buyers, suggesting they often receive financial help from family, who are keen on securing favorable deals.
Despite her criticism of second homeowners for ‘hoarding’ properties and her disdain for landlords lamenting their struggles, Spencer herself appears to fit the profile of a second homeowner.
Having received assistance from her mother to purchase her first property at 24, Spencer has since acquired multiple properties, including a second home valued at £736,000, reportedly bought in August 2024.
She advises others how to squeeze more cash out of people. In one case where her buyers knew they were paying too much, she threatened them with selling to another buyer until they ‘found’ the money.
She even refers to those who hike offers in increments as ‘stingy and more likely to haggle’.
The Green Party’s candidate in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election Hannah Spencer (pictured) has amassed a £1.2million property empire – and offered tips on how to rip off first-time homeowners, flip properties and intimidate buyers
Ms Spencer with the former leader of the Greens Caroline Lucas. Ms Spencer, the Greens’ candidate for Manchester mayor in 2024, has criticised second homeowners for ‘hoarding’ properties and accused struggling landlords of pulling a ‘woe is me act
In another extraordinary post, she admits discriminating against those who need to borrow more to meet her asking price. ‘The banks are getting warier by the day’, she said, adding she ‘wouldn’t accept an offer from anyone’ needing to borrow more ‘unless I absolutely had to’.
And she endorses second homes ‘as an investment’, also against Green policy.
Jo Platt, Labour MP for neighbouring Leigh and Atherton, said: ‘Time and again the Greens say one thing and do another.
‘One minute they’re calling to abolish all landlords, the next they’re backing a candidate with multiple properties.’
A Labour source added: ‘She is a millionaire property-hoarding hypocrite.’
While a Green spokesman did not comment on some of the MoS’s points, they said: ‘Normal person has normal conversations years ago.
‘It’s five days to go, the Greens are winning, and the political and media establishment are going into smearsville overdrive.’
But it’s not just her property empire that has drawn criticism. Her claims that she is a working plumber also do not quite stand up to scrutiny.
Ms Spencer poses for a selfie with the Green Party’s leader Zack Polanski. Mr Polanski has vowed to abolish all private landlords, tax the rich and bring in aggressive rent controls but Ms Spencer appears to be one of those second homeowners herself
Ms Spencer posts on Instagram about ‘being at work’.
But the background shows one of her own homes. She even says she is ‘heading home after a long day’ but neglects to mention she is already there.
In one post, she says she is ‘looking for Reform’s Matt Goodwin’, posing with site gear, complete with work gloves.
However, she is again at one of her houses – outside the constituency.
In another she bragged: ‘When you’re a plumber and Zack P’s making sure it’s not YOUR taxes going up.’ But her £1million of assets would be targeted by Mr Polanski’s wealth taxes. In a video shot at her detached house, she later said she would need to sell shots of her feet online to afford new tools.
Ms Spencer has also said: ‘Like lots of people, I’m new to politics’. But these claims don’t stack up either.
Gorton and Denton will be her family’s 19th election, including her mother’s bid for Parliament.
In a Facebook post on Thursday’s by-election, Mr Polanski said: ‘This is what politics should feel like: thoughtful, honest and shaking things up.’
