Southwark Council has confirmed that it will not be taking action against Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who breached landlord licensing regulations.
Last week, it emerged that Reeves had rented out her Dulwich home for £3,200 a month without obtaining the required selective licence from Southwark Council – a criminal offence under the Housing Act 2004.
Normally, landlords in similar circumstances could face fines of up to £30,000 or even prosecution for failing to secure a licence. In Reeves’ case, however, Southwark Council has indicated it will accept the oversight, provided an application is submitted promptly.
In a statement, Southwark Council, of which 48 of the 63 councillors are from the Labour Party, said that when it becomes aware of an unlicensed property, it initially issues a warning letter advising the landlord that they have 21 days to apply for a licence.
“Enforcement action such as fines are reserved for those who do not apply within that time or where a property is found to be in an unsafe condition,” a spokesperson for the council said.
“Southwark Council requires private landlords to acquire a selective licence in order to rent out their homes if they live in specific areas. This is in order to protect tenants and ensure landlords are complying with housing requirements, providing safe, well-maintained homes.
“Selective licences are acquired by sending applications to the council, which we then assess and approve subject to conditions.”
Reeves has previously campaigned for the introduction of a selective licensing scheme in her Leeds constituency, and earlier this month she publicly backed plans for an expansion of the scheme in the Armley district.
“This scheme means private landlords in the area will be required by law to obtain a licence for any residential property they are seeking to let and must meet certain standards to ensure the property is safe and in a decent state of repair,” she wrote on X.
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