Housing cheat loses her home

The woman in her 20s was awarded a two-bedroom council flat in the west of the city for her and her children, with help from our Homelessness Team, in mid-2020.

When concerns were raised that she was no longer living in the property our Tenancy Fraud Team started an investigation and traced her to another address in Southampton.

Unbelievably, despite not living in the property she then applied to do a mutual exchange, requesting to swap her council home to move to a housing association property.

We stopped the mutual exchange and started legal proceedings against the tenant to take possession of the property. After being issued with a Notice Seeking Possession and Notice to Quit, the tenant handed the keys back to us without having to go to court. The property can now be re-let to a family in genuine need of a home.

With such high demand for council housing and such short supply, it is appalling that some people think they can cheat the system and deny others from a home. Our Housing Tenancy Fraud Team work to investigate suspected housing cheats and gather evidence to ensure those who are found guilty face the full force of the law.  We investigate anyone who is suspected of subletting their council property, those who make fraudulent Right to Buy claims, try to jump the queue by lying on their housing application, or live in a council home without proper permission.

We rely on tenants and leaseholders to help us identify incidents of housing fraud. Please contact your Local Housing Office, email us, call our Tenancy Fraud Team on 023 8091 7610 or report tenancy fraud online if you have suspicions about anyone in your neighbourhood.

Have you noticed a property where the occupants seem to change regularly or spotted someone collecting rent from subtenants? Please email us, all reports will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be made anonymously.