An apology has been issued by Rachel Reeves’s real estate agent for not applying for a rental license as promised. The firm expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to their clients and sought to resolve the matter amid calls for the Chancellor’s dismissal by the Conservative Party. Despite the situation, 10 Downing Street reaffirmed their trust in Ms. Reeves as she continues her preparations for the upcoming significant Budget deliberations.
The incident unfolded when Ms. Reeves, following her party’s electoral success last year, transitioned her family property in Dulwich, South London, into a rental property. However, it was later discovered that the property lacked a necessary “selective license” mandated by the local Southwark council. This discovery prompted criticism from the opposition party for disregarding housing regulations.
Ms. Reeves disclosed email exchanges between her spouse and the agency confirming the agreement to apply for the license. Despite this, she took full responsibility for the oversight. The estate agent’s owner, Giles Martin, clarified that while their staff had offered to handle the license application, the sudden departure of the responsible property manager led to the omission. The firm expressed regret for the confusion caused to their clients and acknowledged the oversight.
Following the revelation, the government released a series of emails detailing discussions between Ms. Reeves’s husband and the agency regarding the rental process. The emails indicated the cost of the license and the planned application process once the tenant moved in.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms. Reeves acknowledged the agency’s initial commitment to apply for the license and took accountability for the oversight. Southwark council indicated that no punitive action would be taken against Ms. Reeves for the licensing lapse, emphasizing that fines are typically reserved for non-compliant landlords.
Upon realizing the error, Ms. Reeves promptly applied for the license, complying with the council’s regulations. The council reiterated the importance of landlords obtaining selective licenses to ensure tenant safety and housing compliance, mentioning their enforcement procedures for unlicensed properties.
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