Housing Fraud

What is Housing Fraud?

When somebody with a housing association home rents it out without permission or obtains a home through providing false information, they are guilty of housing fraud. They are using up valuable housing spaces and depriving families and vulnerable people of getting a home.

FCHO is committed to tackling housing fraud taking place and to provide an effective reporting, investigative and, if necessary, enforcement service to combat housing fraud.

Housing Fraud can include:

Obtaining a tenancy by giving false information, failing to update personal information as a result of a change in circumstances and/or using false documents such as forged identification or claiming another’s identity.

Unauthorised subletting by allowing another person(s) to use part or the whole of the property in exchange for rent without the landlord’s permission

Non-Occupation and Absence is where the tenant is no longer using the property as their only or principal home. They may use the property infrequently, as an address to return to, as an address to claim credit or benefits, or they may abandon the property completely. Long term absence refers to a tenant’s absence from the property of over 28 days and is permitted under certain circumstances for specified periods of time, with prior written agreement from FCHO.

Key selling involves the tenant giving their keys to another person in return for financial gain without informing the landlord.

Right to buy fraud examples:

• Misrepresenting the length of tenancy in order to gain a greater discount
• Attempting to purchase a property whilst not using it as their sole or principal home
• Not disclosing previous rent arrears, possession orders, transfers or evictions
• Misrepresenting the household composition for example submitting a joint right to buy application with someone who does not reside at the property or has not done so for the required period

What can you do to help?

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 – you may have 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, let us know. It could make a real difference.

You can report anonymously by email at: Fraud@fcho.co.uk

Or call our Service Centre on 0161 393 7117