[Cherie]

Rachel Reeves has admitted to “inadvertently” breaking housing rules by renting out her south London home without the specific £945 licence required by the local council.

The chancellor admitted the error to the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and to parliamentary ethics officers, after it was first disclosed by the Daily Mail.

Reeves put her family home in Southwark up for rent after moving into No 11 Downing Street last year following Labour’s election victory.

A spokesperson said the chancellor had used a letting agency to manage the process, and that while she should have been aware of the obligation to buy the licence, she had not been advised that she needed one.

“She had not been made aware of the licensing requirement, but as soon as it was brought to her attention she took immediate action and has applied for the licence,” Reeves’s spokesperson said.



The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, demanded further action be taken and called on the PM to launch a “full investigation”.

Writing on X late on Wednesday, she cited Starmer saying “lawbreakers can’t be lawmakers” and added: “If, as it appears, the chancellor has broken the law, then he will have to show that he has the backbone to act.”

The regulations of Southwark council stipulate that private landlords in certain designated areas of the south London borough need to obtain a “selective licence” before they can rent out their property.



The chancellor’s spokesperson said she had not been informed by her lettings agency that her home was in such an area.

The spokesperson said Reeves had informed the PM as soon as she was made aware of the requirement.

“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.”

Responding on Wednesday night, Starmer said he had met with Reeves and further investigation into the matter was “not necessary”.

In a letter to the chancellor, he said: “I have this evening consulted with my independent adviser on ministerial standards.


“He has advised me that in relation to your inadvertent failure to secure the appropriate licence for your rental property – and in light of your prompt action to rectify the position, including your apology – further investigation is not necessary.”

“I am satisfied that this matter can be drawn to a close following your apology.”

The four-bedroom detached house had been advertised for rent at £3,200 a month last year, the Daily Mail and the BBC reported, and Reeves has noted rental income on her record of parliamentary interests since September 2024.

The error will be an unwelcome political hindrance to the chancellor as she prepares to deliver the budget next month – with reports suggesting her policies could include increasing some property taxes.

In her first budget last year, Reeves had raised stamp duty on buy-to-let homes from 3% to 5% for second homes and investment properties, a policy designed to help first-time homebuyers.

The Liberal Democrats’ deputy leader, Daisy Cooper, said: “Just weeks before the budget, this risks seriously undermining confidence in this government and its ability to focus on the urgent tasks at hand.

The Guardian

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...4e7314d3&ei=21


Oh dear

[arista]

£945.00 should have been paid


[In a letter to the prime minister,
Reeves admitted she did not obtain
a "selective" rental licence required
to rent out her London home and
"sincerely" apologised for her
"inadvertent error".

In reply, Sir Keir said he was happy
the "matter can be drawn to a close"
after consulting his independent ethics adviser,
who has decided not to launch an investigation.]

Normal Folks who skip this licence
have had to pay £40,000 Fine

PM Starmer never mentioned this Fine?


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd04d0yxnrvo

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by arista

and
"sincerely" apologised for her
"inadvertent error".

The air quotes are very appropriate.

Originally Posted by arista

Normal Folks who skip this licence
have had to pay £40,000 Fine

One rule for thee, one for me.

[Cherie]

No worries Arista, there is a very easy fix here, the letting agency come out and say they 'forgot' to tell her about the licence....

[arista]

Who pays the big fine?

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by arista

Who pays the big fine?

Anyone who isn't on the Labour Front Bench?

[joeysteele]

It's really not good enough.
This inadvertent statement doesn't and wouldn't wash for Paul or Paula Smith's in the Country on issues like this.

It's not a great amount but she's the Chancellor of the Exchequer for goodness' sake.
She's going to be making the rules of what people may have to pay extra across the board.

I don't know why he's holding on to her myself, things couldn't at present look much worse for him and Labour.
Plus a lot of the government's woes are from the decisions of Ms Reeves.
Yes, he signs them off but no PM usually overrules their Chancellors.

He still has time and three and a half years+ to turn things around and who knows what he has up his sleeve possibly too.
If I was him, I'd risk the loss of this Chancellor, take the hit for that and put in place someone who will change the direction of economic policy more positively.

Johnson lost his first Chancellor after the 2019 election, then appointed Sunak.
Which worked pretty well between and for them until the aftermath of COVID.

It's hardly the crime of the century that Ms Reeves has failed to ensure ALL was right and in place on this issue.
However she is the Chancellor, it should be expected that what she does is at least in the main right.

[arista]

[It's not a great amount but she's the Chancellor of the Exchequer for goodness' sake.
She's going to be making the rules of what people may have to pay extra across the board.]

Hang on Joey
10 days ago, she tweeted
Well done Leeds Council for introducing
Home Protection Charge for Rentals,


Amazing she backs it
but lacks it


Ref : Radio 5 : Political Reporter in Westminster

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by arista

[It's not a great amount but she's the Chancellor of the Exchequer for goodness' sake.
She's going to be making the rules of what people may have to pay extra across the board.]

Hang on Joey
10 days ago, she tweeted
Well done Leeds Council for introducing
Home Protection Charge for Rentals,


Amazing she backs it
but lacks it


Ref : Radio 5 : Political Reporter in Westminster

you would have thought she would have double checked her own status

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by arista

[It's not a great amount but she's the Chancellor of the Exchequer for goodness' sake.
She's going to be making the rules of what people may have to pay extra across the board.]

Hang on Joey
10 days ago, she tweeted
Well done Leeds Council for introducing
Home Protection Charge for Rentals,


Amazing she backs it
but lacks it


Ref : Radio 5 : Political Reporter in Westminster

I'd say I was much more like saying that ???

I've even said she should go too.
If I was PM, I'd want to change her as Chancellor, definitely.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Cherie

you would have thought she would have double checked her own status

The Housing Agent
is now covering for her.


I get the Feeling, though
still Front Pages.

[arista]

[MTVN]

Looks like the Letting agent is taking the fall as they did offer to sort the licence and never did it

Still all a bit murky though given she previously said she hadn't realised it was needed - when they'd spoken about it to the agent - and you'd think they'd realise the fee hadn't left their account. I'm sure they'd notice well enough if a month's rent didn't go into their account

[arista]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Looks like the Letting agent is taking the fall as they did offer to sort the licence and never did it

Still all a bit murky though given she previously said she hadn't realised it was needed - when they'd spoken about it to the agent - and you'd think they'd realise the fee hadn't left their account. I'm sure they'd notice well enough if a month's rent didn't go into their account

Yes, a full explanation from them.


Still more to come into the press, of course

[bots]

the letting agents never do anything for free. Wouldn't it be on the invoice of services provided if it wasn't dodgy af

[arista]

[arista]