Tenancy fraud
Contents:
2. What we are doing to tackle tenancy fraud
3. I want to report tenancy fraud
1. What is tenancy fraud?
Unlawful sub-letting - Letting someone else live in your home
You are not allowed to rent out your whole council home to someone else. Some people do this to make money, but it’s?against the law. It’s not fair because someone else who really needs a home could be living there.
Wrongly claimed succession - Taking over a home when you shouldn’t
When a tenant dies, only certain people are allowed to take over the tenancy. If someone lies and says they lived there when they didn’t, or just stays without asking, that’s not allowed.
Non-occupation - Not living in the home
If you have a council home, you must live there as your main home. You can’t just visit now and then or only collect your post.
Obtaining housing by deception - Lying to get a home
If someone lies on their housing application, like not saying they already have a council home somewhere else, that’s called?deception.
2. What we are doing to tackle tenancy fraud
We want to make sure our homes go to people who really need them. When someone moves into a council home, we ask for photo ID like a passport or driving licence. If they don’t have one, we take a photo of them ourselves.
If we think someone is using a home in the wrong way, our estate management team will look into it quickly. We work with other organisations and, if needed, we take legal action. This could mean taking the home back and giving it to another family who needs it.
3. I want to report tenancy fraud
You might know that someone has moved out of their council home and is renting it to someone else. Or you might notice that different people keep moving in and out of the same home.
If you think someone is doing something wrong with a council home, please tell us. You can:
- Talk to the?estate management team
- Call our?confidential fraud line?on?01395 517494?and leave a message
We keep everything you tell us?private. You don’t have to give your name, but it helps if you do. That way, we can ask more questions if we need to and make sure we have the right information.