The lettings agency at the centre of the Rachel Reeves selective licensing debacle has released a statement explaining why it did not apply for a selective license on behalf of the Chancellor.

Gareth Martin, boss of Harvey & Wheeler, who had declined to reply to press enquiries all day, has now said he’s apologised to the Reeves family for his oversight.

“We alert all our clients to the need for a licence. In an effort to be helpful our previous property manager offered to apply for a licence on these clients’ behalf, as shown in the correspondence,” he says.

“That property manager suddenly resigned on the Friday before the tenancy began on the following Monday.

“Unfortunately, the lack of application was not picked up by us as we do not normally apply for licences on behalf of our clients; the onus is on them to apply.

Certficates

“At the time the tenancy began, all the relevant certificates were in place and if the licence had been applied for, we have no doubt it would have been granted.

“Our clients would have been under the impression that a licence had been applied for. Although it is not our responsibility to apply, we did offer to help with this.

“We deeply regret the issue caused to our clients as they would have been under the impression that a licence had been applied for.”

The explanation from Martin means the Chancellor is off the hook politically and technically, as she an now claim correctly that it is ‘her agent’s fault’.

But property licensing platform Kamma tells The Neg that under the Housing Act 2004, Reeves has committed a criminal offence. Landlords have a legal responsibility to license properties before letting them – not simply rely on agencies to advise.

If even front-bench members of the Government can’t get licensing right, what chance does the average landlord or letting agent have?”

Orla Shields, CEO of Kamma, says selective licensing has become an incredibly complex area and mistakes of this nature are a common problem.

“If even front-bench members of the Government can’t get licensing right, what chance does the average landlord or letting agent have?”

And there could be more trouble in the pipeline for the Chancellor. If they wish, Reeves’ tenants could now apply for Rent Repayment Order and claim back up to 12 months’ rent – potentially £38,400.

Reeves received some more good news yesterday. Southwark said it wouldn’t prosecute the Chancellor for non-compliance because she submitted her application for a licence within the 21 days allowed once a landlord or the council becomes aware that a property is unlicensed. The council has told The Neg it does not comment on individual cases.