Free property licensing tool offered to MPs after Rachel Reeves scandal

Proptech outfit Kamma is rolling out its compliance platform to help with property licensing at no cost to every Member of Parliament through December.

It says the initiative comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ admission that she rented out her south London home without the necessary selective licence.

Landlords and letting agents have faced mounting headaches as local councils roll out 128 licensing frameworks across the country, the firm warns.

Nearly one in three of these schemes have appeared within the last 24 months.

Licensing trips landlords up

The firm’s chief executive, Orla Shields, said: “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: “This is about accountability.

“If our elected representatives can see the true scale of the problem, maybe we can finally simplify housing regulation instead of adding more red tape.”

Complex licensing rules

In London, 29 of the 32 boroughs enforce their unique licensing stipulations, creating a web of rules that trips up even the most seasoned operators.

Ms Reeves’ recent oversight has ignited fresh debate on the burdens of these rules on landlords.

She confessed to the lapse in her Dulwich property, an error that might have triggered penalties up to £30,000 or a rent repayment order of £40,000.

Figures from Kamma reveal councils have slapped more than £20 million in penalties on private landlords with £13 million specifically for licence violations.

The firm’s system monitors all current and pending local setups, delivering quick insights into whether a dwelling requires approval and the attached obligations.