Tenancy fraud

We are committed to ensuring that our council housing is used fairly and benefits those who need it most.

Tenancy fraud takes homes away from people in our community and places a strain on public resources.

Together, we can ensure housing is there for those who genuinely need it.

What is tenancy fraud?

Tenancy fraud occurs when someone misuses a council property or provides false information to get or keep a tenancy. Common types of tenancy fraud include:

• subletting fraud: renting out council property to someone else for profit
• false applications: providing false information to gain a council home
• non-residence: claiming to live in a council property while actually living elsewhere
• succession fraud: falsely claiming the right to take over a tenancy after the original tenant leaves or passes away
• right-to-buy fraud: misleading us to purchase property under false pretenses

It’s a crime

Tenancy fraud is a criminal offence and will be prosecuted under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013. Convictions can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.

Anyone convicted of fraud may also lose their home.

How you can help

You can help us tackle tenancy fraud by:

• updating your information: keep your personal and residency details up to date by emailing changes to neighbourhoodhousing@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk; this helps us to ensure our records are accurate and prevents misunderstandings
• reporting suspicious activity: if you suspect tenancy fraud, you can report it confidentially by telephone on 0300 300 4154, or email to benefitfraud@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk