**Oversight Sparks Apology Over Rachel Reeves's Rental Licence** Rachel Reeves's estate agent has issued an apology following an oversight regarding a rental licence for her family home in Dulwich. The incident has drawn attention after the Chancellor was compelled to apologise to Keir Starmer and his ethics adviser for the error. Reeves, who moved into No 11 Downing Street after Labour's election victory last summer, had placed her south London property, co-owned with her husband, on the rental market. On Wednesday, the Chancellor learned that the property lacked a "selective licence" mandated by Southwark Council. This revelation prompted calls from Conservative MPs for a comprehensive investigation by the Prime Minister's ethics chief, Sir Laurie Magnus, and for the Chancellor to face dismissal for breaching housing regulations. Giles Martin, owner of Harvey Wheeler estate agents, explained the situation in a statement. He said, "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. That property manager suddenly resigned on the Friday before the tenancy began on the following Monday." Martin continued, "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. We have apologised to the owners for this oversight. 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." In a letter to the Prime Minister, Reeves acknowledged the oversight, stating, "Today the letting agency and my husband have found correspondence confirming that on 17 July 2024 the letting agent said to my husband that a selective licence would be required and agreed that the agency would apply for the licence on our behalf. They have also confirmed today that they did not take that application forward, in part due to a member of staff leaving the organisation." Reeves accepted responsibility for the oversight, saying, "I also take responsibility for not finding this information yesterday and bringing it to your attention. As I said to you today, I am sorry about this matter and accept full responsibility for it." Despite the controversy, No 10 has stated that Starmer has full confidence in the Chancellor. Furthermore, it appears that Southwark Council will not take action against Reeves for failing to obtain the licence. The council clarified that enforcement actions, such as fines, are reserved for landlords who disregard warning letters about unlicensed properties. Upon realising the error, Reeves promptly applied for the necessary licence. A spokesperson for Southwark Council reiterated the importance of selective licences, stating, "This is in order to protect tenants and ensure landlords are complying with housing requirements, providing safe, well-maintained homes." The council explained that when they become aware of an unlicensed property, they issue a warning letter advising the landlord to apply for a licence within 21 days, with enforcement actions reserved for those who fail to comply or have properties in unsafe conditions. They added, "We cannot comment on individual cases." This incident highlights the complexities surrounding rental regulations and the responsibilities of landlords in ensuring compliance with local authority requirements.