Chancellor Rachel Reeves failed to realize a deciding on landlord licence when renting out her residence in Dulwich, attracting some ire from the property trade.
The breach occurred after she moved into No 11 Downing Road following Labour’s July 2024 election victory.
The problem has been blamed on Reeves’ lettings company, which apparently didn’t inform her she wanted a licence.
The issue got here to mild on Wednesday when the Each day Mail approached the Chancellor for remark, after which Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer met later that night.
Reeves wrote: “This was an inadvertent mistake. As quickly because it was dropped at my consideration, we took rapid motion and have utilized for the licence.
“I sincerely apologise for this error and I might be completely satisfied to reply any questions you might have.”
Phil Turtle, compliance director of Landlord Licensing & Defence mentioned Reeves has dedicated a strict legal responsibility crime below part 95 of the Housing Act 2004, with limitless fines if prosecuted in court docket.
Alternatively can subject a civil monetary penalty as much as £30,000 for a breach like Reeves’.
Turtle mentioned: “Councils deal with this as some of the heinous crimes potential and we see dozens of small landlords each week fined typically between £12,000 to £20,000 for this very same legal offence.
“Identical to rushing, it’s a strict legal responsibility crime and there’s no defence of “I didn’t know” or my letting agent didn’t inform me. Councils are completely cruel in prosecuting small landlords as a result of for them, fining landlords has turn into a serious income stream.
“Will Reeve’s apology get her off the hook? It actually wouldn’t get anybody else who rented out their former household residence and didn’t license it. Council’s see these landlords as low hanging fruit for his or her income.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declined launching an investigation into Reeves’ housing dealings, saying an apology is “adequate”.
