Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what arrangements were made following the introduction of sanctions on the owners of Sutton Place to (a) maintain the property and (b) pay any outstanding liabilities.

OFSI does not generally comment on specific cases. For further information about how OFSI takes licensing decisions, please see the OFSI’s general guidance here, and OFSI’s supplemental licensing guidance here.

The asset freeze imposed on designated persons prohibits them from dealing with or benefiting from their UK assets, including real estate.

Where appropriate, OFSI may issue either a general or specific licence on behalf of HM Treasury to permit activity that would otherwise be prohibited by an asset freeze. This includes to enable payments for pre-existing obligations and for the routine holding and maintenance of properties owned by designated persons.

However, while a licence permits such payments, it does not compel the designated person to undertake the work. Therefore, even if OFSI issues a licence, maintenance or repairs will only take place if the designated person is willing to carry them out.