Report help to reveal sub-letting resident
Not everyone who lives in our homes behaves like you do. Recently, concerns were raised by residents and one of our Estate Officers about possible subletting at a two-bedroom flat. Reports suggested the tenant was not living at the property and may have been renting it out to others.
An unannounced early morning visit was carried out by one of our Neighbourhood Managers and the Counter Fraud and Investigations Lead from the local council.
During the visit, the tenant was not present, but two men were found at the property. Both admitted to paying the tenant £400 per month each in rent.
Inside, officers discovered clear evidence of subletting, two beds in one bedroom, two more in the living room, and a mattress in the second bedroom.
The tenant was formally interviewed under caution by the Council and our Neighbourhood Manager. The case was also referred to the Council Tax department and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as the tenant had been fraudulently claiming a single person discount and Universal Credit.
The sub-tenants vacated the property shortly after, and the tenant received a formal written warning.
The investigation confirmed tenancy fraud had taken place. Through joint working between Fairhive, the local authority and other partners, the misuse of public resources was stopped, and the home was returned to proper use, ensuring it could once again support someone in genuine housing need.
An unannounced early morning visit was carried out by one of our Neighbourhood Managers and the Counter Fraud and Investigations Lead from the local council.
During the visit, the tenant was not present, but two men were found at the property. Both admitted to paying the tenant £400 per month each in rent.
Inside, officers discovered clear evidence of subletting, two beds in one bedroom, two more in the living room, and a mattress in the second bedroom.
The tenant was formally interviewed under caution by the Council and our Neighbourhood Manager. The case was also referred to the Council Tax department and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as the tenant had been fraudulently claiming a single person discount and Universal Credit.
The sub-tenants vacated the property shortly after, and the tenant received a formal written warning.
The investigation confirmed tenancy fraud had taken place. Through joint working between Fairhive, the local authority and other partners, the misuse of public resources was stopped, and the home was returned to proper use, ensuring it could once again support someone in genuine housing need.
