Uncovered: Substantial Deposit of £800k for Angela Rayner's Seaside Residence - Fury Mounts over Housing Matters in Deputy PM's Portfolio

Labour MP Angela Rayner Moves to Seaside Apartment in Hove, Saves on Stamp Duty

Labour MP Angela Rayner has purchased a seaside apartment in Hove, Sussex, and has classified the property as her main residence. This change in residence has allowed her to save on stamp duty and avoid the higher rate that would have been applied if her new property was classified as a second home.

The apartment, located on the second floor of an elegant Victorian terrace, boasts a large, airy interior with a smart kitchen featuring marble-style countertops, a generously sized master bedroom, and a cosy living area crowned by a small crystal chandelier. The property also boasts its own balcony, sash windows that look out onto the sea, and a neatly maintained green.

Ms Rayner paid approximately £30,000 in stamp duty on her new property, instead of the expected £70,000. She financed the £800,000 property with a £650,000 mortgage from NatWest bank, which she took out in May.

This move has raised questions about Ms Rayner's living arrangements, with Conservatives calling for an investigation into whether she has broken the ministerial code in her property purchase. Labour MP Graham Stringer has publicly condemned Ms Rayner over her property dealings, while former Tory Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel called her a 'hypocrite and a freeloader' in relation to her property dealings and tax avoidance accusations.

It is understood that Ms Rayner's primary residence is her family home in Greater Manchester, but she no longer owns a stake in it following her divorce. The apartment in Hove provides her with an alternative base to her grace-and-favour residence in Westminster.

Neighbours in Hove have described Ms Rayner as rarely being at the property now that she juggles her time between London and Hove. One neighbour described the property as 'fantastic'.

Mortgage experts suggest that Ms Rayner's large deposit allowed her to benefit from more favourable interest rates. Before the Labour minister purchased the flat in Hove in May, an application was reportedly made to alter the ownership on the property.

Ms Rayner put down a £150,000 deposit on her new seaside pad, and it is believed that the property has risen in value since her purchase in 2025. The flat has been valued at £650,000, and Ms Rayner's constituency home in Ashton-under-Lyne, which she bought in 2016 for £375,000, is now believed to be worth £650,000.

Ms Rayner has designated her 'primary residence' for council tax purposes as Ashton, which allows her to avoid paying council tax on her third home, her grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House. The Conservatives have also called for an investigation into whether this designation breaks the ministerial code.

Uncovered: Substantial Deposit of £800k for Angela Rayner's Seaside Residence - Fury Mounts over Housing Matters in Deputy PM's Portfolio