Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ealing crackdown on tenancy fraud saves almost £1.1m in public money, highlighting efforts to combat housing benefit abuse and protect taxpayer funds.
Since April 2024, Ealing Council has stopped 22 fraudulent tenancy applications and retrieved 26 illegally inhabited council premises.
In one instance, it was found that a tenant was renting out their Hanwell council property to relatives while simultaneously owning another residence. Financial documents showed illicit rental revenue, and a land registry investigation showed that ownership had been transferred to a family member. After the council successfully retrieved the property, it was released to one of the approximately 7,500 local families who were waiting for a council house.
In a different instance, a sub-tenant who was shut out of the Southall property they were renting without realizing they were renting it illegally contacted the council. Bank accounts, council tax records, and information on school admissions verified that the real renter resided in Northampton and was paid by subtenants. The recovery of this property was accomplished.
Tenancy fraud occurs when a renter gives false information while applying for council accommodation or abuses a council residence by subleasing it without authorization. The offense is criminal.
Each fraudulently occupied social house may cost the taxpayer over £42,000, according to the Tenancy Fraud Forum. The council is protecting public monies and making sure that homes are available for individuals who truly need them by identifying and reclaiming properties that have been exploited.
In these cases, the sub-tenants often have no idea that they are caught up in a criminal act. It’s not unusual for sub-tenants to be misled into renting a council home by a tenant, having been deceived about who owns it.
Councillor Louise Brett, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Safe and Genuinely Affordable Homes, said:
“A safe, affordable home is an essential foundation for a good life. But with the number of local people waiting for a council tenancy continuing to grow, demand for social housing in the borough has never been higher. Tenancy fraud not only deprives families who genuinely need these homes, but it also places unnecessary strain on public resources.
Our fraud team works diligently to investigate suspicious cases and will always take the strongest action it can. Technology and national records now make it much easier for us to spot and check unusual activity, and it is more likely than ever that we will eventually find you if you are defrauding the local taxpayer. If you’re illegally subletting a council home and pocketing the cash, watch out – the next knock at the door could be our officers.”
What penalties were imposed on convicted tenancy fraudsters?
On summary conviction (less serious cases), penalties can include imprisonment for over to 6 months, forfeitures up to the statutory outside, or both. On conviction on charge (more serious cases), offenders can be jailed for over 2 years or fined. Also, offenders linked to unlawful false statements can be assessed.
For numerous cases, courts consider the inflexibility and intent of the fraud when deciding on imprisonment versus offenders. reprise offenders or those involved in deliberate deception may face custodial rulings. Some residency fraud cases also lead to eviction and disqualification from unborn residency rights.
While imprisonment is applied in serious cases, frequent offenders are assessed, especially where they compensate or cooperate in investigations.