Almost the end of the week, and I am in court on a sub-letting possession matter. I have been very impressed by so many organisations’ approach to the International Fraud Awareness Week, and if I can be especially biased I have loved the Tenancy Fraud Forum’s top tips series.
But fraud is an issue throughout the year and not just for a week, and I hope in my field of housing fraud it continues to be dealt with enthusiastically and persistently. Attending events such as the Oxford Annual Fraud Conference demonstrates what talent there is, especially on the investigation side.
I am going to leave this blog with reference to a recent successful prosecution carried out by the London Borough of Islington. A former tenant was ordered to back £242,705 plus £18,000 in costs at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday 11 September 2024. Why?
- He became a tenant of the Council in 2011.
- He failed to advise however that his circumstances had changed since applying for social housing.
- He had bought a 3-bedroom home in Haringey.
- Rather than live in that property with his family, he sub-let it.
- Not only was he receiving up to £2000 in rent but he was also claiming full housing benefit on his Council property.
- His fraud was discovered when he applied for the right to buy.
- He pleaded guilty to 4 counts of fraud in December 2022.
- He received a suspended sentence of two years, plus 30 Rehabilitative Activity Days days and 250 hours of unpaid work.
- The Council pursued Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.
Islington have been especially proactive and successful in detecting housing fraud and between April and September 2024 recovered 41 properties.
#fraudweek