ANGELA “Three Pads” Rayner is having taxpayers cover the council tax on her grace-and-favour Whitehall flat.
The Deputy PM’s apartment in Admiralty House is being treated as her “second home”.
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As a result, the £2,034 charge is covered by the Cabinet Office.
If she declared it her main residence, she would have to pay the bill herself.
Under Labour rules brought in this April, ordinary second-home owners must pay a 100 per cent premium, doubling their bills to £4,068.
But this does not apply to Admiralty House as it is an official residence.
The row comes after The Sun on Sunday revealed Ms Rayner had bought a £700,000 seafront flat in Hove, East Sussex.
This meant she had to allocate her pad in Ashtonunder-Lyne, Greater Manchester, as her official primary home.
Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused the Government of an “apparent cover-up” over the arrangements.
He said: “It is staggering hypocrisy for the Deputy Prime Minister to push punitive new taxes on family homes while apparently avoiding those same taxes herself. One rule for Rayner, another for everyone else.
“There are now serious questions about the role of Government ministers in this apparent cover-up. Why were these tax perks not disclosed honestly to Parliament?
“And with the revelation of a third property in Hove for weekend use, it is only right to ask whether Admiralty House should in fact be treated as her primary residence and whether she owes the tax liabilities that come with it.”
A Labour spokesman said: “Angela takes her responsibilities seriously and pays the council tax she owes.”
