This week, from Monday 7th to Friday 11th October 2024, we’re launching Tenancy Fraud Action Week – a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about tenancy fraud within social housing.

Each day, we'll be focusing on a different type of tenancy fraud, explaining what it is and the impact it has on our communities.

Throughout the week, we’ll also be running a 'key amnesty', giving tenants who are committing tenancy fraud the chance to come forward and hand their keys in with no repercussions. Our aim is to ensure that our homes go to those who genuinely need them.

Tenancy Fraud Action Week - Recognising and preventing tenancy fraud

So, what is tenancy fraud?

Tenancy fraud is when someone lies or cheats to get or keep a home they’re not entitled to. Types of tenancy fraud include:

  • Subletting – this happens when a tenant rents out part or all of their home, even to a family member, without permission. This is a crime that can lead to prison or a fine under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 and the Fraud Act 2006. It can happen anywhere, including through platforms like Airbnb. Social landlords can ask courts to make tenants repay any illegal profits, often amounting to tens of thousands of pounds
  • Misrepresentation – this is when someone lies or leaves out facts to get a home or a transfer into a bigger one and can lead to a fine. This is true even if someone else lies for them without being asked
  • Joint Tenancy Fraud – Picture this: A sole tenant tells their landlord that their partner has moved in and requests a joint tenancy. Once approved, the original tenant moves out, leaving the remaining tenant, who often doesn't have a genuine need, in the home alone. This is another type of tenancy fraud and is taken very seriously as it takes away homes from those who genuinely need them
  • Key Selling - If a social tenant is granted a tenancy but never moves in and instead sells the keys to a third party, then this constitutes a criminal offence and is tenancy fraud
  • Succession Fraud – Unfortunately, this is a growing phenomenon in the social housing field. Put simply, it’s when a tenant dies, and a person claims the right to succeed the tenancy and home, by saying they’ve lived there for the required amount of time, when in fact, they haven’t.

What are the facts?

  • In 2012, nearly 100,000 social homes in England were affected by tenancy fraud. Recent research indicates that this number has now increased to at least 148,000
  • These misused properties could have provided homes for over 104,000 homeless families currently in temporary accommodation in England. The savings could then be used to help the more than 1.2 million people on housing waiting lists.

Source: Fraud Intelligence

If you, or someone you know has been committing tenancy fraud, this is your chance to come forward. Come down to our office between Monday 7th and Friday 11th October 2024, to hand back your keys with no questions asked.

Our opening hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8.45am - 5.15pm
Friday: 8.45am - 1pm.