The Labour councillor who oversees housing in the same borough that declined to prosecute Rachel Reeves has resigned after confirming that two properties he owns in Peckham were also operating without adhering to the required selective licensing rules.

These are my properties, and I take full responsibility for allowing this situation to arise.”

Michael Situ (pictured), Cabinet Member for Housing at Southwark Council, said his managing agent was responsible for applying for the licences but added: “These are my properties, and I take full responsibility for allowing this situation to arise.” He also confirmed the agent’s account has fallen into council tax arrears”.

This follows the recent revelations that Rachel Reeves’ Dulwich home was being rented out without a licence after she moved into Downing Street. Like Situe, the Chancellor initially claimed that her letting agency had not told her she needed one. However, it later transpired that her agent had informed her, as had Knight Frank, but that a staff member had failed to submit the application.

Own standards

According to the Daily Mail, Situ reviewed his own arrangements only after national media scrutiny of Southwark’s selective licensing regime. Southwark Liberal Democrats subsequently accused the council of “failing to uphold its own standards” when it decided not to take enforcement action against Reeves or support tenants seeking rent repayment.

Cabinet

Council Leader Sarah King has accepted Situ’s resignation, describing him as “a loss to the cabinet”. Landlords, though, have a legal responsibility to license properties in designated areas before letting them and not simply rely on agencies to advise and the matter has now been referred to the Monitoring Officer.