The Conservative Party has refused to comment on the Mayor of Barnet’s failure to declare his position as a landlord when voting on controversial housing policies, until an investigation has concluded.

Barnet Borough Council’s monitoring officer is leading an investigation after receiving two complaints about the mayor, Councillor Hugh Rayner.

The complaints, which cannot be published for legal reasons, raise a number of issues concerning Cllr Rayner’s failure to register his interest while chairing meetings regarding housing policy and benefits to landlords.

Last week a Freedom of Information request revealed Cllr Rayner, who owns 19 properties, has received more than £28,000 in housing benefits from tenants.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: “It would be wholly inappropriate to comment or speculate on a matter that is still under investigation.”