Peter “Perec” Rachman, a refugee from Poland who fled the Nazi holocaust during World War II, arrived in Britain with little to his name. Despite his inspiring beginnings, Rachman established a property empire notorious for its involvement in prostitution, gambling, extortion, and threats of violence.
A newly released book titled “Slumlord: Peter Rachman and the Postwar London Underworld” by author Neil Root delves into the life of Rachman, tracing his journey from Siberian labor camps to the streets of Notting Hill in West London. Rachman utilized a network of gangsters and influential figures to intimidate tenants while expanding his property portfolio with low-cost housing.
Described in the book as operating on the fringes of the London underworld, Rachman employed tactics akin to those of a gangster, employing intimidation and threats to maintain control over his enterprise. He associated with dubious characters and exploited legal loopholes to evade prosecution.
Born in 1919 in Lviv, Ukraine (then part of Poland), Rachman’s early life was relatively comfortable until the war disrupted his studies in Warsaw. After enduring hardships in Siberian captivity, Rachman eventually found his way to the UK as a refugee in 1946. He ventured into landlordism in the 1950s, capitalizing on legislative changes to increase profits by displacing long-term tenants with vulnerable immigrants.
Rachman’s unscrupulous practices included employing a group of enforcers, among them individuals with a history of violence like Norbert “Fred” Rondel and Tommy Yeardye. He also engaged with Michael de Freitas, who later became involved in criminal activities. Notably, Rachman crossed paths with Michael Heseltine, a future Tory grandee, in a property transaction that highlighted Rachman’s ruthless reputation.
The book also sheds light on Rachman’s tumultuous personal life, including his relationships with prominent figures like Mandy Rice-Davies and Christine Keeler. Despite his death in 1962, Rachman’s legacy endured through his controversial dealings and connections to high society scandals.
Neil Root emphasizes the relevance of Rachman’s story in today’s housing crisis, attributing the situation to a lack of accountability and protection for vulnerable tenants. He draws parallels to modern tragedies like the Grenfell tower fire, underscoring the consequences of neglecting social responsibility in the housing sector.
