Angela Rayner shells out £800,000 for her THIRD home: As Labour turns the screws on second-home owners ‘pricing locals out of housing’, Deputy PM buys seaside pad

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has expanded her property portfolio with the purchase of a £700,000 seaside apartment near Brighton — her third home.

The Housing Secretary already owns a house in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, bought for £375,000 in 2016 and now worth around £650,000, as well as a grace-and-favour apartment in Westminster’s historic Admiralty House.

Her latest acquisition — a luxury three-bedroom flat boasting sweeping sea views — pushes her property holdings beyond £1 million. The purchase comes despite Rayner’s frequent criticism of second-home ownership and Labour’s plans to raise council tax for many homeowners.

Rayner has been spotted enjoying the Brighton lifestyle in recent weeks, kayaking on the sea, attending Brighton Pride, and relaxing on the beach in a £165 Dryrobe coat. Locals also report seeing her partner, former Labour MP Sam Tarry, moving belongings into the new flat.

Tory Criticism Over Transparency

The move has sparked criticism from Conservatives, who accuse Rayner of failing to be transparent about her housing and council tax arrangements.

Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly said:
“Angela Rayner is responsible for housing policy, yet she won’t even be straight about her own. Time and again she has dodged questions about what properties she owns and where she pays council tax. Now we find out she’s got three homes. If she’s not prepared to be open while taxing everyone else heavily, the public will wonder what she has to hide.”

Land Registry records show the Brighton flat was bought earlier this year with the help of a six-figure mortgage. The Deputy PM reportedly marked the purchase with a housewarming party.

Questions Over Council Tax

The issue of Rayner’s council tax bills has drawn scrutiny. Since April, councils have been allowed to levy a 100% surcharge on second homes.

In her most recent expenses declaration, Rayner listed her Ashton-under-Lyne property as her main residence. That would leave her taxpayer-funded Westminster apartment as a second home, with council tax rising to more than £4,000 under the surcharge.

However, critics allege she may have “flipped” her primary residence designation. If she instead claimed Admiralty House as her main home and applied for a single-occupancy discount, her council tax bill would drop to £1,525 — a saving of over £2,500.

A government minister has since clarified that “council tax arrangements for Admiralty House are as has been the case for successive governments and ministers occupying it as an official residence” and that Rayner’s obligations are “properly discharged.”

Calls for Consistency

The row has highlighted past comments by Rayner, who in 2023 pledged:
“Holding any position in public life should mean upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity. What I have laid out today will put the right system in place to ensure accountability and transparency across government.”

Her situation has drawn comparisons to her past criticisms of former chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s “vast property empire.”

Despite the controversy, allies argue Rayner’s London base is simply practical. A source close to her said:
“Angela’s work means she has often had to be in and around London for over a decade, but had always rented a flat for that purpose.”

Meanwhile, both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have confirmed they pay full council tax on their Downing Street residences.