Tenancy Fraud Awareness

MSB Solicitors are proud to be taking part in Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week, running from the 12^th – 18^th November 2023.

What is Tenancy Fraud?

Tenancy fraud is when a person provides false information to gain access to a social housing property, sublets their home to someone else, or does not use it as their only or main home.

Tenancy fraud includes:

• Not being truthful to get a tenancy.
• Selling keys to a home.
• Not living in the property.
• Right to Buy and Right to Acquire Fraud.

Tenancy fraud is also criminal offence which can attract a custodial sentence and/or a fine under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 and the Fraud Act 2006.

Why is Tenancy Fraud a Problem?

The National Fraud Authority have estimated the cost of tenancy fraud to be £900 million. Aside from the financial risks to RSLs, tenancy fraud creates negative social impact and stops communities from thriving. The lack of a settled home to those truly need it has an adverse effect on the education of children, health and employment prospects and the creation of safe communities.

Tenancy Fraud is not a victimless crime and leads to:

• More than 148,000 homes in England are subject to tenancy fraud.
• More than 100,000 families are living in temporary accommodation.
• Every night in England, 310,000 children have to share a bed because of over overcrowding.

What can we do about Tenancy Fraud?

Tenancy fraud should be taken extremely seriously and all residents should be encouraged to report suspected tenancy fraud to their landlord or the www.tenancyfraudforum.org.uk.

If a Social Landlord identifies that a customer/tenant is committing tenancy fraud, legal action can be taken. For example, injunction orders, possession proceedings, rent repayment orders, and unlawful profit orders are all potential remedies that can be used.

Contact us, we are here to help.

If you would like any more information on tenancy fraud, how to prevent and detect it, and what legal remedies may be open to your organisation, please contact Andy Moore in the Social Housing team at andymoore@msbsolicitors.co.uk.

We’re here to help, so please pick up the phone or drop us an email and one of our dedicated team will help with your enquiry.