Grace and favour

A grace-and-favour home is a residential property owned by a monarch by virtue of his or her position as head of state and leased, often rent-free, to persons as part of an employment package or in gratitude for past services rendered. Some are owned by UK charitable trusts.

It is possible that the term crept into English through the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote of advisers who are ministers per grazia e concessione, which has been translated as "through grace and favour".

In the United Kingdom, these homes are owned by The Crown or a charity and, in modern times, are often within the gift of the Prime Minister. Most of these properties are taxed as a "benefit in kind", although this status does not apply to 10 Downing Street or any home granted for security purposes, such as the residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. They are at times granted to senior politicians.

View of numbers 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street - official residences of the First Lord of the Treasury (Prime Minister), Second Lord of the Treasury (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and the Chief Whip.

Chequers - official country residence of the Prime Minister.

Admiralty House - official ministerial residence.

Admiralty Arch - formerly an official ministerial residence.

Chevening House - official ministerial residence usually reserved for the Foreign Secretary or Deputy Prime Minister.

Hillsborough Castle - official ministerial residence for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Palace of Westminster - housing the official residences of the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords.

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