Keir Starmer has informed Rachel Reeves that no further action will be taken regarding her unintentional failure to obtain a rental license. He expressed regret that the emails regarding the arrangement were not initially shared with him.
Reeves had previously acknowledged breaching local council housing regulations by not securing a “selective” rental license for her family property. She disclosed emails exchanged between her husband and the agency confirming that the agency had agreed to apply for the license. Reeves took full responsibility for the oversight.
In a letter to Keir Starmer, Reeves explained that the letting agency and her husband had corresponded about the need for a selective license back in July 2024. However, the agency did not proceed with the application due to staff changes. Reeves accepted responsibility for not bringing this information to Starmer’s attention earlier and apologized for the oversight.
The Prime Minister, after reviewing the situation, considered it an inadvertent failure to secure the appropriate license, for which Reeves had apologized and was addressing. Following advice from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, the Prime Minister determined that no further action was required.
The Prime Minister’s independent standards adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, confirmed that Reeves made an unintentional error and found no evidence of bad faith in her statements. He highlighted that Reeves’ husband had been made aware of the license requirement in 2024, although he did not recall the exchange due to a busy period. Magnus emphasized that there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
In response, Keir Starmer, consulting his ethics adviser, decided not to launch a probe and considered the matter closed. Downing Street reiterated confidence in Reeves and assured that she would present the Budget on November 26 as scheduled.