New series on housing fraud
This week we see the start of a series of 5 programmes on BBC1 showing how frontline housing officers are dealing with local authority and housing association fraud, “Council House Crackdown will run all week starting at 9.15am each morning.
Tenancy fraud in now a criminal offence and carries with it if convicted heavy fines and possible imprisonment, over the past 3 years Circle Housing Circle 33 has recovered over 200 homes as a result of its ongoing crackdown, in the program their neighbourhood team are seen rescuing properties that were being sublet unlawfully.
Karen Ayling, head of housing for Circle Housing Circle 33 reportedly said: “With the acute shortage of affordable housing available in London, it is absolutely crucial that every social housing property is used by people who need it.
“We take tenancy fraud extremely seriously as every home that is not occupied by the registered tenant costs taxpayers thousands of pounds. It also prevents families on the waiting list and in need of a home from moving into a property.”