Tenancy fraud crackdown nets £2.9m

A crackdown on housing and tenancy fraud in Wolverhampton, including false applications for social housing, has saved taxpayers £2.9m, the city council has said.

Over the past year, investigators working with Wolverhampton Homes have looked at the illegal subletting of council properties and fraudulent social housing claims.

Up 30 homes were taken back and re-let to families, nine housing applications stopped along with five right-to-buy ones and legal action taken in three cases, the council said.

Councillor Louise Miles, cabinet member for resources, said every pound saved from fraud was "a pound that can be invested in vital public services".

One successful prosecution through the council's counter fraud team resulted in a an offender being convicted of subletting a property and being ordered to pay £8,209 in costs, the local authority said.

"The City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Homes take a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and we will not hesitate to take action as appropriate," Miles said.

"The true victims of tenancy fraud are those who are genuinely unable to access affordable housing - those on social housing waiting lists or living in temporary accommodation."

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