Chancellor Rachel Reeves unlawfully rented out her family home without a licence, according to reports tonight.
Her cabinet role is said to be in jeopardy after she referred herself to the government’s ethics adviser and admitted what she described as an “inadvertent mistake” to prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
It has emerged that, after moving into 11 Downing Street, Reeves began renting out her property in Dulwich, south-east London, for around £3,200 per month last year.
However, she failed to obtain a rental licence – a breach of housing regulations.
Southwark Council requires private landlords in certain parts of the borough, including the area where Reeves’s home is located, to hold a “selective” licence before letting their properties.
It is claimed that Reeves used a letting agency but was not told the house was in an area that needed a “selective licence” to rent the property.
A spokesperson for Reeves said it was an “inadvertent mistake” and she has now applied for the licence.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a “full investigation”.
In a social media post, Badenoch said if the chancellor broke the law, the prime minister must “show he has the backbone to act”.
A spokesperson for Rachel Reeves said: “Since becoming chancellor Rachel Reeves has rented out her family home through a lettings agency.
“She had not been made aware of the licencing requirement, but as soon as it was brought to her attention she took immediate action and has applied for the licence.
“This was an inadvertent mistake and in the spirit of transparency she has made the prime minister, the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards aware.”
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That agent is in the deep dippy do do. I hope the have good, up to date PII.
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I don’t really blame Ms Reeves – she should be able to rely on the agent having a clue. Not good PR for the industry 🙁
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Are you serious? Rach from Purchase Ledger is the sodding Chancellor of the Exchequer. You’re telling me that it’s acceptable for her not to understand that she needs a licence to rent out her home for nearly 40k a year. She’s arguably the No.2 public servant in the country. She has civil servants and advisors coming out of her ears, (and she and her partner are landlords already) yet she thinks it a fair excuse to claim that her letting agent didn’t tell her. Haven’t we heard this sort d excuse before from another cabinet member?
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What would her gain be for not applying for a “selective licence”? This does not appear to be as clean cut as a large Stamp Duty saving. In other words, is the time worth the crime?
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Yuno, it’s not that hard….just refresh the council’s website every day to see what new hoop they’ve added for you to jump through…
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‘Chancellor can’t keep up with ludicrous minutiae of letting regulation but it’s an innocent mistake’. 2tk will be ok with it, unlike with anyone else!
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Hate to say it but the agent is at fault, they are the experts.
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Diligence! If she isn’t diligent about her personal affairs, is it any wonder the economy is in such a mess. Also, I assume her husband is a party to the rental arrangement. If my partner is busy, I step in, and vice versa. But at least we know the rules and to check we comply (through our agents).
Ignorance of the law has never been an excuse, but I suspect Labour-run Southwark will find an excuse to let her and her agent off the hook.
Incidentally, does anyone recall hearing the outcome of Jas Atwhal’s rental non-compliance (agent blamed)? Who carried the can… if anyone?
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Why does the newsflash headline refer to it as an HMO? Quite different to an ordinary family home.
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