Chancellor of the Exchequer His Excellency Rachel Reeves has released detailed correspondence showing that her husband and their letting agency were told an application for a licence to rent out their south London property would be submitted on 17 July 2024. The action aims to defuse a political flare-up over her failure to obtain a mandatory rental licence before leasing the home.

In a letter to Prime Minister His Excellency Keir Starmer, Reeves accepted that the ultimate responsibility lay with her but noted that the agency had confirmed it would apply.

The agency has since admitted the application was not pursued after an employee’s unexpected departure.

Following the revelation of further email exchanges, Downing Street confirmed that new information had been passed to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, but insisted the Prime Minister retains “full confidence” in Reeves.

The mis-licensing issue emerged after Reeves disclosed that the property had been let without the required selective licence, prompting opposition demands for a formal inquiry.

The granting of a licence could lead to tenant claims and, in some cases, the landlord facing rent-repayment orders.

The letting agency’s apology and the minister’s voluntary disclosure have allowed the matter to be treated administratively, avoiding a full disciplinary investigation.

Still, the episode comes at a politically sensitive moment: Reeves is due to deliver the Autumn Budget on 26 November and is under scrutiny as her government balances fiscal pressures and mirrors previously stated pledges not to raise certain taxes.

The new email material may ease immediate pressure, but analysts say it leaves broader questions about oversight and ministerial compliance.

Reeves and her team must maintain momentum on the economic agenda while managing reputational risk ahead of next month’s fiscal statement.