General Election Bulletin – 6 June 2024

Please read the full General Election guidance on our website.

Need to know

• If you leave Parliament, you will have a four-month winding-up period after the election, from 5 July to 4 November to close down your affairs.

• Check out the winding-up checklist that gives a summary of the actions you will need to take during these four months.

• You must arrange for the disposal of your office equipment and furniture, including IT equipment. Visit our website to find out what options you have.

• You should have a break clause with a two-month notice period on your property leases. We strongly advise you to give notice on your accommodation and office leases as soon as possible to ensure costs do not go beyond the winding-up period.

Disposal of office furniture and equipment

Former MPs must arrange for the disposal of their office equipment and furniture, which should be done safely and securely.

We have recently added a report to the bottom of the MP Dashboard on IPSA Online that displays the equipment that must be accounted for should the MP leave office.

Please contact us if you would like to add a note against any items to help you to keep track of your equipment, or if you no longer have anything on the list. An Asset Details Report is also available, which lets you view these transactions and any attached receipts to aid identification.

You have different disposal options for IPSA-funded IT equipment, all of which are available to view on our website.

You should:

• Maintain clear records and be prepared to provide us with information on how you disposed of this equipment.

• Provide a receipt/proof of sale for any equipment that was donated or sold.

• Declare if any of the kit on the asset list has broken and has already been disposed of.

Costs relating to the disposal of office equipment and furniture may be claimed from your Office Costs Budget.

Property break clauses and end-of-tenancy

If you leave Parliament, IPSA will provide funding to cover rent for your office, accommodation, and other necessary costs during the four-month winding-up period after the General Election.

We encourage you to give notice on your accommodation and office leases as soon as possible to ensure costs do not go beyond the winding-up period.

IPSA always advises MPs to secure a break clause with a two-month notice period when negotiating a lease. This is because a longer notice period may mean you are personally liable to pay the rent for all or part of the remaining contract.

If you do not have a suitable break clause, it may be possible to surrender the lease to the landlord, sub-let or assign the lease to another tenant.

If you do not have an office to work from at any point during the winding-up period, and working from home is not an appropriate option, you are permitted to hire a temporary office space either in London or in your constituency as long as it is affordable within your remaining budget.