Tenant receives jail sentence for housing fraud

The case involves a housing cheat living in a council property in Fareham who dishonestly failed to notify the authorities about a change of circumstances which affected her entitlement to housing benefit and Council Tax Reduction. She also breached her tenancy agreement by unlawfully sub-letting her council home. Not only is this illegal, but in the current housing crisis with so many people in desperate need of social housing the case is scandalous.

Southampton City Council Legal Team worked in conjunction with Fareham Borough Council to bring this case to court to ensure the tenant faced the full force of the law. We work in partnership with Fareham and Havant Councils to cover their legal work.

The tenant pleaded guilty to all charges in court and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She also received an unlawful profit order which means she must repay the council all the money she made in profit from her illegal actions and she will be barred from applying for social housing in the future. She narrowly missed out on a jail term.

Her council property has since been relet to people in genuine housing need.

The case serves as yet another deterrent to others who think they can cheat the system, as District Housing Manager Helen Prophett says. “We can and do track down housing fraudsters who illegally claim benefits, sublet their home, 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. Any tenants who commit housing fraud must know they will face the full force of the law, as this former Fareham tenant has.”

We rely on tenants and leaseholders to help us identify incidents of housing fraud. Have you noticed a property where the occupants seem to change regularly or spotted someone collecting rent from subtenants? If you have any information, please report your suspicions online or call our Tenancy Fraud team on 023 8091 7610. All reports will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be made anonymously.