Proptech company Kamma is offering its property licensing compliance platform free to every Member of Parliament through December, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ admission that she rented out her south London home without obtaining the necessary selective licence. The initiative aims to highlight the growing complexity of rental property licensing laws, which have become increasingly difficult to navigate for landlords and letting agents.
Kamma’s chief executive, Orla Shields, commented on the situation: “Licensing law has become a maze. If the Chancellor can fall foul of it, imagine the position of an ordinary letting agent. We’re offering our technology free to MPs so they can experience first-hand just how complicated the system has become – and how easily it could be fixed.” She added that the move was about accountability, expressing hope that making elected representatives aware of the issues could drive efforts to simplify housing regulation rather than adding more bureaucratic hurdles.
This marketing push comes amid a national rise in property licensing schemes. The firm notes that local councils have rolled out 128 different licensing frameworks across the UK, with nearly one-third introduced in the past two years alone. In London specifically, 29 out of 32 boroughs enforce their own distinct licensing rules, creating a challenging regulatory environment even for experienced landlords and agents.
Rachel Reeves’ lapse brought fresh public scrutiny on these licensing requirements. She rented out her Dulwich property without the required selective licence from Southwark Council, a breach that could lead to penalties of up to £30,000 or a rent repayment order as high as £40,000. Initially, Reeves suggested she was unaware of the licence requirement, but later disclosed emails indicating that her letting agent had informed her of the necessity. The letting agency apologised for failing to secure the licence, while Reeves accepted full responsibility and promptly applied for it once the mistake came to light.
This incident has renewed debate over landlords’ responsibilities, the role and accountability of letting agents, and the burdensome nature of housing regulations. Figures from Kamma reveal that councils have imposed over £20 million in penalties on private landlords in recent years, with £13 million of those fines specifically linked to licence violations.
Southwark Council enforces strict selective licensing rules in areas including Reeves’ property location. According to council guidelines, landlords must apply for the licence before renting out their properties and failure to do so can result in severe penalties or prosecution. The council typically issues warning letters and grants a 21-day window to comply before enforcement action follows.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed calls for an official investigation into the Chancellor’s oversight. While acknowledging the error, he expressed satisfaction with Reeves’ apology and the review conducted by the government’s ethics adviser, stating that no disciplinary measures were warranted. This approach is seen as an attempt to move past the controversy amid ongoing economic challenges and forthcoming budget announcements.
The episode throws the spotlight on how complicated and fragmented property licensing regulations have become across the UK. Kamma’s free tool offers MPs an opportunity to understand the practical difficulties landlords face and could catalyse much-needed reforms to reduce regulatory complexity and enforcement inconsistencies.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (Property118) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- [2] (BBC News) - Paragraph 5
- [3] (AP News) - Paragraph 7
- [4] (LBC) - Paragraph 6
- [5] (Reuters) - Paragraph 7
- [6] (The Independent) - Paragraph 5
- [7] (The Independent) - Paragraph 5, 7
Source: Noah Wire Services