Four ministers and one in eight MPs are landlords

Ministers who profit from privately owned property could be seen as hypocrites by voters who want to see the government's promised rent reforms become law, campaigners have said.

- Michael Goodier Aletha Adu

The warning comes after Guardian analysis revealed that four cabinet ministers - including the chancellor, Rachel Reeves - have declared rental income from property in the MPs' register of interests.

The disclosure, which comes after the resignation of the homelessness minister, Rushanara Ali, over the eviction of tenants from her London property, has drawn strong criticism from campaigners and backbenchers.

One senior MP said the fact front-benchers made money from private property ownership undermined the government's credibility when it came to reforming the rental sector.

One MP said: "The perception that MPs are profiting from the same system we're supposed to reform isn't helping ... there's a real risk voters will see this as hypocrisy and question our credibility on renters' rights."

The foreign secretary, David Lammy, and the Scotland secretary, Ian Murray, have declared rental income exceeding £10,000 in the most recent register of members' interests. Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, is listed but is understood to have a single lodger and receive less than £10,000 in rent.