Housing fraud
Help stop housing cheats
Do you know someone who has:
- Rented out their council or housing
association home without permission? - Obtained their home through false
information?
Speak out if you have suspicions.
If you suspect someone of housing fraud, let us know:
Phone: 0191 424 7197
Email: strategichousing@southtyneside.gov.uk
Your report will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be given anonymously.
What is housing fraud?
Most people applying for housing wait their turn to be allocated a home. Housing cheats don't wait, they jump the queue. It's not fair.
They use up valuable housing spaces which deprive those in greater need. They are guilty of housing fraud.
There are different types of housing fraud. Here are some of the most common:
Unlawful subletting
When a tenant lets out their council or housing association home without the knowledge or permission of their landlord they are unlawfully subletting. They often continue to pay the rent for the property directly to their landlord, but charge the person they are subletting to a much higher rate. It is not fair to sublet and to profit from a property which could be given to someone in greater need.
Obtaining housing by deception
When a person gets a council or housing association home by giving false information in their application, for example not telling the landlord they are renting another council or housing association property, they are committing housing fraud.
Wrongly claimed succession
When a tenant dies, there are rules that say what should be done with the tenancy. Unentitled claiming of a property when a tenant dies is when someone, who is not entitled, tries to take over the tenancy. For example, they might say they lived with the tenant before they died, when in fact they were living elsewhere.
What can you do to help?
We are working hard to track down housing cheats and ensure that homes are given to people who are next in line.
Your help in reporting fraud is important because you can see what is happening in your neighbourhood.
- You might know that someone has a home that the landlord doesn't know about or if they have given false information in their housing application
- You might suspect someone of housing fraud if you 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, please let us know. It could make a big difference to people in real need.
What happens next?
We will investigate your concerns and the necessary action will be taken.
If someone is found to have committed housing fraud that person could lose their tenancy.
