Corporate fraud

Housing tenancy fraud within social housing has been estimated to currently cost the government £900 million each year. This ultimately comes at considerable cost to you, the tax payer.

Social housing is an extremely valuable asset; it provides people with a stable, low cost home. Across Swindon, abuse of social housing deprives those families and individuals in genuine need.

What is housing tenancy fraud?

Housing tenancy fraud is the use of social housing by someone not entitled to occupy that home. The most common types of fraud are:

• illegal sub letting
• using false information to gain a tenancy
• wrongly claimed succession
• key selling
• non residence
• right to buy fraud

Swindon does not have enough social housing to meet the requirements of people who genuinely need it and has to make the best use of the housing that is available, safeguarding occupation for those who are legally entitled to do so. 

People waiting for social housing will have to wait in temporary accommodation even longer if homes continue to be occupied by people who have no right to be there. It is estimated that temporary accommodation costs approximately £18,000 per year per family. 

Social housing fraud has been identified as the largest type of fraud loss across local government.

We take tenancy fraud very seriously and will take action to regain possession of properties wherever we find evidence of tenancy fraud.

You can help us by keeping an eye on your local area.

You should let us know if:

• You think someone in a Council or Housing Association property has another home that we don't know about or has given false information in their housing application
• You have seen anyone collecting rent from a Council or Housing Association property
• The tenants of a social housing property keep changing.
• You notice that no one is living in a property
• You are aware of someone applying to buy their Council property who is not entitled to do so