More and more housing cheats stopped

Thanks to their investigations many fraudsters have faced the full force of the law and much-needed council homes that were being illegally sublet have been recovered and re-allocated to those in genuine housing need. The team recover on average more than one council home every month, which is then re-let to people on the waiting list who in many cases have been waiting years.

Currently the team are seeking to evict four housing cheats from their council homes and several other cases are pending court. As well as losing their council home (and the right to reapply for housing in the future) fraudsters are often ordered by the court to repay us the money earnt by illegally subletting their property.

The Tenancy Fraud Team also uncover and expose people who try to cheat the system by lying on their Right to Buy or housing application. Working closely with colleagues in Allocations and Local Housing Offices, the Tenancy Fraud Team carry out thorough checks in order to stop fraud before a new tenancy is signed. They have ensured that many fraudulent housing applications and benefit claims have been denied.

Housing fraud costs the public purse millions of pounds a year. The money we spend on investigating and prosecuting housing cheats, recovering and re-letting properties could be much better used improving your homes and neighbourhoods, so please help us to stamp out housing fraud. Contact us in complete confidence if you have any suspicions about empty or sublet properties in your neighbourhood.  Please contact your Local Housing Office , email us, call our Tenancy Fraud Team on 023 8091 7610 or report tenancy fraud online. Reports can be made anonymously.