Andy Burnham Faces Hypocrisy Accusations Over London Landlord Role

Labour leadership hopeful and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been accused of hypocrisy after newspaper investigations revealed he rents out a London flat partly financed through his parliamentary expenses, while he has publicly advocated stricter regulation of private landlords.

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

Burnham bought a flat in Kennington in 2005. Its market value has risen to £480,000, double the purchase price. He used the MP expenses allowance to cover mortgage interest, a practice allowed before the 2009 reforms. In 2015 he also rented a council flat, charging taxpayers £17,000 a year for a nearby property.

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

As mayor, Burnham introduced a Good Landlord Charter, a £1.5 million fund to hire ten enforcement officers for substandard private rentals, and in 2023 wrote to then Housing Secretary Michael Gove urging powers to impose rent controls. His proposals fed into the Renters’ Reform Act, which includes independent property inspections and a mandatory landlord register.

Landlord Andy Burnham in ‘hypocrite’ row'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

Burnham’s office declined to comment on the expense-funded purchase. In his 2023 letter to Gove, he warned that some landlords were exploiting the cost-of-living crisis to raise rents, while noting that a minority might face higher mortgage costs. Labour Growth Group and Good Growth Foundation have consulted him on aligning Capital Gains Tax with income tax.

Landlord Andy Burnham in ‘hypocrite’ row

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake called Burnham a hypocrite, highlighting the gap between his landlord activities and his criticism of the rental sector. A Conservative trade spokesman also raised the issue during the Makerfield by-election campaign, suggesting Burnham’s stance on EU alignment was secondary to the landlord controversy.

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

Sources confirm the Kennington flat’s value has doubled, yet they do not specify how much of the purchase price was covered by expenses. While the expense use complied with the rules in force, critics argue it breaches ethical standards. No audit of the property’s finances has been reported.

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

• “Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman, told The Sun on Sunday: 'The self-styled King of the North, it turns out, has kept a rather comfortable foothold south of the river.” — Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

• “Bought thanks to expenses, doubled in value, rented out for profit – despite cries of unfairness against the landlord class he is a part of.” — Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses

• “There is a certain whiff of hypocrisy.” — Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman

Landlord Andy Burnham in ‘hypocrite’ row

• “Landlords with the encouragement of letting agents, are using this [cost of loving] crisis as an opportunity to introduce rent hikes … Some landlords will be struggling with increased mortgage costs, but many will not.” — Andy Burnham, Manchester Mayor (2023 letter)

Landlord Andy Burnham in ‘hypocrite’ row

The landlord controversy is a focal point in the Makerfield by-election campaign, where Burnham is Labour’s candidate and a Labour leadership hopeful.

'King of the North' Andy Burnham is a London landlord: Wannabe PM is branded a hypocrite for renting out flat that was partly funded by his MP expenses