Crackdown on tenancy cheats

The Government is launching a crackdown to recover desperately needed council and housing association homes that have been fraudulently sublet.

It is estimated that 10,000 of these homes can be recovered, costing £3,000 to reclaim rather than £100,000 to build a new home.

Spearheaded by the Housing Minister,  John Healey wants to make the housing system for families who need homes fairer.

He said: “This is first-ever fraud drive nationwide, which could free up as many as 10,000 homes for those on council waiting lists, with £4million and 8,000 hot leads for suspect tenants, 147 councils across the country can today get this crackdown on fraud off to a flying start.

“But public tip-offs are vital in tackling this problem.  So I am also offering £500 to anyone whose information leads to us recovering one of the first 1,000 homes.”

Tenancy cheats live elsewhere, earning thousands of pounds by unlawfully subletting the properties at higher rental rates.

Those caught may lose any right to future social housing.

It has been estimated by the Audit Commission that the number of social homes unlawfully sublet could total as many as 50,000 homes nationwide.

A reward of £500 will be offered to anyone who tips off a council that leads to the recovery of one of the first 1,000 homes.