What is Housing Fraud?

Most people applying for housing wait their turn to be allocated a home. Housing cheats don’t wait, they jump the queue. It’s not fair.

They use up valuable housing spaces which deprive those in greater need. They are guilty of housing fraud.

There are different types of housing fraud; here are some of the most common:

Unlawful Sub-letting

When a tenant lets out their council or housing association home without the knowledge or permission of their landlord they are unlawfully subletting. They often continue to pay the rent for the property directly to their landlord, but charge the person they are subletting to a much higher rate.

It is not fair to sublet and to profit from a property which could be given to someone in greater need.

Obtaining Housing by Deception

When a person gets a council or housing association home by giving false information in their application, for example not telling the landlord they are renting another council or housing association property, they are committing housing fraud.

Wrongly Claimed Succession

When a tenant dies, there are rules that say what should be done with the tenancy. Wrongly claimed succession is when someone, who is not entitled, tries to take over the tenancy. For example, they might say they lived with the tenant before they died, when in fact they were living elsewhere.

Your help in reporting housing fraud is important because you can see what’s going on in your neighbourhood.

• You might know that somebody has a home the landlord doesn’t know about or has given false information in their housing application

• You might suspect someone of housing fraud having seen them collect rent from your neighbours

• You might be suspicious because the tenants of a property keep changing

If you suspect someone is a housing cheat, click here to find out how to let us know. It could make a real difference.

©Colchester Borough Homes 2010