Rachel Reeves let out house unlawfully

vegansrock

Those who claimed they would thoroughly check it probably do not have a full on job which requires you to outsource a lot of your life admin. She used an agent who no doubt charge a fee for their services.

A life admin agent?

NotSpaghetti

Witzend totally agree.
Having a register would be good all round.

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 makes provision for a Landlord Register, however the framework has yet to be decided/announced

Those who claimed they would thoroughly check it probably do not have a full on job which requires you to outsource a lot of your life admin. She used an agent who no doubt charge a fee for their services.

Have you noticed how RR's hairstyle is getting wilder. Where is the efficient work bob that says control? Has she given up the ghost knowing herself and Labour on the slippery slopes to oblivion.
Word of advice to her. Quit now. Walk away into a nice job outside politics and let another poor MOP take the flak for what is coming to this Government.

Even worse news for poor Rachel is that she and her letting agents now face substantial fines. I wonder if labour Southwark Council will decide to prosecute 🤔. Lawmakers can’t be lawbreakers as someone once said. Hmmm… wasn’t that Sir Keir? Oh well we all make mistakes.

In her defence, some Councils are introducing new rules arbitrarily and members of the public are getting caught out and having to pay on-the-spot fines for nothing in particular.

If Ms Reeves used an agent, they should know the correct rules and procedures and advise her accordingly.

I looked at Southwark councils website for landlords.
A licence is needed not just for HMO’s but general lets, this is a good move.

The bad news for RR is the tenants can claim their rent back if they have been living in an unlicensed property.

Poor Rachel.

Yes, it’s the slapdash that bothers me too.

Exactly Smileless2012 It wouldn't have occurred to me either unless it was going to be an HMO.

What bothers me about both Reeves and Rayner, and their housing , is not that I believe either of them had any intention of deception or skullduggery. I think both acted with intended integrity.

What really bothers me is that in both cases these errors occurred because they were both slapdash and careless in not checking, and checking again, to make sure that, in an area, property transactions, that is such a hot potato if it goes even mildly wrong. They should have got some independent expert to check and then asked another.

I feel this reflects on the whole way the current administration, and this is not a party political point, governs. They are slapdash and careless. So many of the mistakes they make, like the two I have highlighted in another thread have happened because people were just careless, couldn;t be bothered to read documents properly, take on board what other people have said.

In their single minded determination to get things done, they cut corners, ignore anything that contradicts what they want to believe - and as a result they fall into traps like that Rayner and Reeves have fallen into personally and other policies have fallen into more generally.

I wouldn't have asked my council NotSpaghetti. I'd have checked with the letting agent that I didn't need a licence because it wouldn't have occurred to me that unless I was letting out an HMO, I might need one.

As a former residential landlord, I agree Witzend.

Witzend totally agree.
Having a register would be good all round.

Smileless2012 the licence is to do with the actual location of the property. Everyone in this (small) area.
It's not only HMOs in some places - by locality.

But I also heard more than once on the news today (as others ipthread have said) that her letting agent had a clause saying they would inform you if you required a licence.

I would see no reason to ask out-of-the-ordinary questions of my council if my local letting agent said they'd tell me.

Fair point

Rachel Reeves aside, my peeve is that IMO all landlords should be required to register, and to adhere to set standards. For one thing, a register would make it a lot easier to check which LLs are failing to declare their rental income, which I’m sure is rife. And it’d be easier to take action against those who fail to maintain their properties.

I say this as a LL myself.

Well, it has to be said, they are more 'aboveboard' than some other political parties.
Although the bar has been low.

I agree with posters who say that the budget will (should) be the end of RR.

If Labour hadn’t harped on ad infinitum about how aboveboard they were during the run up to the election this wouldn’t have been splashed all over the media…

Ohh dear... But the agent she entrusted the letting to, should have put everything in place. I doubt they are doing it for free?

DaisyAnneReturns

Apparently, the letting agents had a line in there paperwork which said "if you need a licence, we will advise you".

That’s very peculiar phrasing. What does it mean?

Does it mean that they’ll tell you if you need a licence if you should happen to ask?

Or is it just a badly constructed way of saying ‘we will tell you if you need a licence’?

Regrettably I think it’s such an obscure sentence that it proves nothing either way.

For once I agree with Oreo. This isn’t worth bothering about. The Budget is going to do for her…

well if I'd seen that in my paper work I'd have checked with the letting agent that I didn't need a licence, because I thought licences only applied to HMO's.

Is anybody honestly surprised?

Apparently, the letting agents had a line in there paperwork which said "if you need a licence, we will advise you".

I started off thinking it wasnt a big deal.

But now do think she should have been a lot more careful.

No surprise Sir Kier standing by her.
Always does. Until he cant.

Allsorts

Why make excuses for her, for anyone that lies or withholds the truth. All these supposed oversights whatever party, always to theur financial advantage.
Maremia,where did anyone say it was ok for Farage to buy a house in Clacton! No one did. Why say that ?
If anyone is letting out they have a legal obligation to check the agreements, you buy a house anything you adhere to the rules. If one of us did it the law would be involved, doubt we would be told, there there, you didn't know.
Keir keeps her as there's no one else, useless lot.

Quite. We rent out a small house (nowhere near the very expensive house RR rents out).

We have to make sure we comply with the law and all regulations relating to our property. I will admit you have to be on your toes because things change all the time but she is supposed to be very smart isn’t she? I find my info on local council and various landlord support sites.

Of course there's always the chance that this has been leaked by someone in the LP in an effort to get rid of her. Pile on the pressure enough like they did with Rayner. We all know Starmer will eventually cave in and her "resignation" will appear. Let's hope so.