£4,250 a month to live in PM’s country retreat
(Sorry, we don’t mean Chequers!)
THE heated swimming pool, tennis court and gorgeous views of the countryside are all great selling points – but having the Prime Minister as your landlord takes some beating.
Boris Johnson, fiancee Carrie Symonds and son Wilfred have the choice of two grace-andfavour properties, thanks to their refurbished four-bedroom flat above No 11 and official country retreat of Chequers.
And The Mail on Sunday can reveal this has prompted the Prime Minister to put his idyllic Oxfordshire cottage on the rental market for a cool £4,250 a month.
It is thought Mr Johnson and his family have been unable to stay at the Grade II-listed property close to the market town of Thame – about ten miles from his official country retreat over
An idyllic family cottage ‘with lovely walks and pubs nearby’
the border in Buckinghamshire – because of security guidelines that stipulate serving PMs must use Chequers.
The four-bedroom property is being advertised with local estate agents Strutt & Parker. Described as ‘a lovely Grade II-listed 4-bed family cottage’ with ‘lovely walks and pubs nearby’, it is available to rent for a minimum term of 12 months.
The dog- loving Prime Minister has even waived the rule adopted by many landlords banning pets, with the listing stating that prospective tenants with animals will be ‘considered’.
Mr Johnson and ex-wife Marina Wheeler bought the house for £690,000 in 2003. It has a minimalist decor of white walls and mahogany flooring.
The cosy 3,100 sq ft property also has an annexe, which is described by the estate agents as a garden room. Converted from a barn, the self-contained building has a small kitchen and features exposed brick and a fireplace. The new tenants of the £1.2 million property will have to bring their own furniture as the listing states it is unfurnished.
Mr Johnson isn’t the first PM to let out his property while living in Downing Street. In 2010, David and Samantha Cameron rented their £2.7 million Notting Hill home out for around £6,000 a month. And Theresa May also rented out a London property, with records showing that she earned £10,000 as a landlord. Former Labour premier Tony Blair sold his home when he moved into Downing Street, while Gordon Brown, John Major and Margaret Thatcher continued to use their properties.
In November 2019, Mr Johnson sold the Georgian townhouse he and barrister Ms Wheeler owned in Islington, North London, after putting i t on t he market for £3.75 million five months earlier.
The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds moved into the flat above No 11, the Chancellor’s official residence, in July 2019. They now share the home with 11-month-old Wilfred and their pet dog, Dilyn.