After being questioned by watchdogs, Carrie Johnson has been asked to pay quadruple her original rent in order to reside at a foundation-owned stately home.
Damian Aspinall, who hired the PM’s wife as PR head for the Aspinall Foundation in January, was quizzed by regulators when it emerged he was paying just £2,500 a month to live in the 30-bedroom mansion.
The Daily Mail published the details of the millionaire’s Howletts House rental arrangement in February. It was revealed just as the Charity Commission had announced their statutory inquiry into allegations of financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest.
Trustees are not allowed to profit financially under charity law. The probe will also inquire about the financial arrangement of the foundation.
Damian Aspinall, (pictured with Carrie Johnson) who hired the PM’s wife as PR head for the Aspinall Foundation in January, was quizzed by regulators when it emerged he was paying just £2,500 a month to live in the 30-bedroom mansion
The rental rate previously paid on the Kent mansion by Mr Aspinall – who is chairman of trustees at the charity founded by his father John – is less than a typical five-bedroom terraced student house in nearby Canterbury. Recent accounts show Mr Aspinall, 61, paid £121,211 in rent ‘and other recharges’ last year – around £10,000 a month and up from £30,000 for 2019. He was also given £8,089 by the foundation, down from £113,122 the previous year.
The timing of the rise in rent has been questioned. Since 2014 rent and other charges at Howletts have varied from £30,000 to £47,000 a year. Sources close to the foundation insist the current rent is £45,000 a year, saying it is low because upkeep and insurance on the old property are so high.
According to the Charity Commission, because of ongoing inquiries, “we can’t comment further”
The charity stated that it was fully committed to fulfilling its legal obligations both as a charity, and private business when the Mail first investigated its finances.
“As an organisation we seek transparency and ethics, under the supervision of independent trustees.
The timing of the rise in rent has been questioned. Since 2014 rent and other charges at Howletts have varied from £30,000 to £47,000 a year. Pictured with Victoria Aspinall: Mr Aspinall and Victoria Aspinall