According to new analysis of the MPs’ register of interests, one in eight MPs received rental income last year, four of whom are cabinet ministers, including Rachel Reeves and David Lammy.

Rachel Reeves has declared she receives rental income from a London house that she jointly owns with her partner.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Scotland Secretary Ian Murray have also declared rental income exceeding £10,000, while House of Commons leader Lucy Powell receives less than £10,000 from a single lodger. The biggest landlord is Labour MP Jas Athwal (Ilford South), who got into political trouble recently when his properties were found to be poorly managed.

Conflicts of interest

The disclosure has intensified scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest just as the Renters’ Rights Bill gets ever closer to becoming law.

And the timing is particularly awkward as it comes just after homelessness minister Rushanara Ali was forced to resign following revelations that she evicted tenants and then hiked the rent on her rental property by £700 per month.

Jae Vail from London Renters Union tells The Guardian: “The sheer number of landlords in parliament is shocking. During an unprecedented housing crisis, it’s a blatant conflict of interest that MPs are making millions from struggling renters.”

There’s a real risk voters will see this as hypocrisy and question our credibility on renters’ rights.”

Ben Twomey from Generation Rent said MPs were “around three times more likely to be landlords than the rest of us”, adding: “Landlord power within parliament has left renters with few legal protections.”

And one senior Labour MP claimed the situation risked damaging the party’s reputation, saying: “The perception that MPs are profiting from the same system we’re supposed to reform isn’t helping – there’s a real risk voters will see this as hypocrisy and question our credibility on renters’ rights.”

A Ministry of Housing spokesperson, says: “There are already clear transparency rules around this. We’re focused on improving standards and security for tenants, and our Renters’ Rights Bill will level the playing field between landlords and tenants.”

Main image: All Labour’s 442 MPs, Pic credit Keir Starmer.