A former resident has been required to repay more than £95,000 following an investigation into the illegal subletting of their PA Housing flat in Kingston, which was going on for over 8 years.
The investigation concluded that they was renting out their social housing flat to a family of 4 for £1,000 per month in cash. While this was happening, they were living in a house in Harrow that they inherited and now owned. They were also subletting in this property too. Their inheritance was valued at over £700,000, but they didn't disclose this and continued to receive housing benefit and reduced council tax from Kingston Council, even though they were no longer eligible.
Suspicions were raised when a subtenant anonymously reported concerns to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and this was referred to the South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP). Working alongside us, the SWLFP carried out an investigation.
Early one morning, SWLFP officers confirmed the presence of subtenants during a visit to the home in Kingston. The subtenants provided statements about when the subletting began, the deposit they paid, and the rent they were charged. Their neighbours also said that the resident had not lived at the address since 2015, which was confirmed by Harrow Council.
In June 2024, we took legal action against them at Kingston County Court. The ruling was in our favour, and they were ordered to return the flat back to us within 14 days, pay rent arrears of £14,774.15, court costs of £6,213.50, and an Unlawful Profit Order of £75,000.
Their application to suspend the possession order was dismissed, and we were able to recover the property in October 2024. Kingston Council is also now taking legal action to recover £69,637.14 in overpaid benefits, and the DWP is also taking separate action to reclaim more overpayments made to her.
We will not tolerate tenancy fraud and will take action.
We take all reports of tenancy fraud seriously.
Tenancy fraud is a serious breach of tenancy and is a criminal offence. The penalties for a criminal conviction for this include up to two years in prison, a fine of up to £50,000, and an unlawful profit order.
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