Housing case studies
Harrow Council
2010/11
A NFI housing tenancy data match led to the conviction of a tenant for unlawfully subletting a council house in Wolverhampton to her adult children, whilst also renting another property in Harrow, North London.
Investigation of the match revealed that the tenant was first assessed to be homeless by Harrow Council in 1997. She was placed on the housing waiting list and housed in temporary accommodation. Unbeknown to Harrow, she also registered as homeless in Wolverhampton in 2005, and was given a tenancy in October 2005. She did not inform Harrow and continued to be placed in temporary accommodation until she was granted a tenancy in 2006. She continued to visit Wolverhampton to mislead housing officers that she was living there.
She admitted to having two tenancies and was given a nine month suspended sentence for obtaining services by deception. She was also suspended from her public sector job. The keys to the property in Wolverhampton have now been handed back and Harrow Council have been awarded possession of the other property in recent civil proceedings.
Justin Phillips, Anti-Fraud Manager at Harrow Council said:
“I think what this case illustrates is that fraudsters cannot benefit from their criminal activity in relation to housing fraud. Not only was she convicted of fraud in a Crown Court, so she has that conviction on record for the rest of her life, but she has also been forced to give up precious council tenancies that she should never have had in the first place. We are working hard in Harrow to make sure housing goes to those who need it most”
Broxbourne Housing Association
2010/11
A NFI housing tenancy data match enabled Broxbourne Housing Association to successfully recover a three bedroom home.
Investigation of the match indicated that their tenant held a second tenancy with another housing association. It established that the tenant had actually purchased the property from the other housing association. Local residents also confirmed that the individual was not living in the property owned by Broxbourne HA.
The tenant could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the Broxbourne tenancy so a possession order was obtained which meant the much needed three bedroom home could be reallocated to a genuine tenant.
Wolverhampton Homes
2010/11
A NFI Right to Buy to housing tenancy data match led to the recovery of a tenancy by Wolverhampton Homes. Investigation of the match indicated that a tenant had previously obtained a property through the Right to Buy scheme.
As part of the investigation the tenant was interviewed and, when confronted with evidence, admitted putting false information on his housing application to obtain another property.
The tenant agreed to terminate the tenancy and the three bedroom home can now be reallocated to genuine tenants.
Salford City Council
2008/09
Salford City Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)are in the process of recovering approximately £33,000 of overpaid benefits as a result of investigating an NFI right to buy to housing benefit match.
The housing benefit claimant had originally purchased a property under the right to buy scheme in 2005.
The applicant obtained a mortgage from the private sector.
The claimant then made an application to re-mortgage the property for a sum much higher than the initial purchase price.
In both mortgage applications he declared income that had not been declared on both his housing benefit or DWP applications.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the claimant had used his sons identity and National Insurance number to gain the undeclared employment fraudulently.
Investigators were able to prove that he was known to his employers under his sons name by showing them a photograph of the claimant.
At an interview under caution the claimant admitted that both his and his wife’s employment had not been declared, that he had not declared all of his bank accounts or an adoption allowance. The claimant also admitted to falsifying his identity.
The claimant pleaded guilty in court on 24 June 2009. He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 2 years, a community punishment order with an unpaid work requirement of 200 hours and also had his mobility car taken away.