What is tenancy fraud?
Tenancy fraud is when a customer provides false information to gain property, sublets the property to someone else, or does not use it as their only or main home.
There are many different types of tenancy fraud. However, here are a few of the more common types:
- False Right To Buy/Right To Acquire – where a customer makes a Right to Buy or Right to Acquire application and gives false information in their application.
- Key selling – where a customer is paid to pass on their keys in return for a one-off payment.
- Obtaining housing by deception – where a person gets home by giving false information on their housing application.
- Unlawful assignment – where a customer stops using their tenancy as their principal home, allowing another person to live there without permission from us.
- Unlawful subletting – where a customer rents out their home without the knowledge or permission of the landlord.
- Wrongly claimed succession – where the resident dies, and someone tries to take over or succeed the tenancy they are not entitled to.
If you commit tenancy fraud
You will be in breach of your tenancy agreement, and you are also breaking the law. In addition to the risk of losing your home, you could incur high court costs. Tenancy fraud holds a penalty of up to two years in prison and a £50,000 fine.
How do I report tenancy fraud?
If you think someone in your area may be subletting their home, living elsewhere, or suspect any of the other types of tenancy fraud, please report this to us in confidence on 0300 123 2221.
We take cases of tenancy fraud very seriously, and we will investigate all reports of alleged tenancy fraud and take action accordingly.
This can involve working with partners including the local authority, the police and the Department of Work and Pensions.
