Social Housing Tenancy Fraud 2022-23

Social housing tenancy fraud remains a key fraud risk area for the City of London Corporation. The Counter Fraud Team provides a full investigative response across all aspects of housing, from initial applications to the investigation of civil and criminal tenancy breaches and right to buy screening.

The work of the team is designed around minimising the risk of fraud across housing, by providing a comprehensive counter fraud and investigation response with a clear focus on safeguarding the City’s assets and recovering any losses due to fraud.

Statistics on social housing tenancy fraud

101 cases were referred to the Counter Fraud Team

62 cases resulted in no further action

12 successful tenancy fraud outcomes were obtained

Result = £715,512 in the total value of prevented losses

The team prevented 6 fraudulent housing applications from progressing

3 cases resulted in guilty pleas from residents who had illegally obtained social housing tenancies

£108,425 was identified in recoverable losses from unlawful sub-letting

£53,841 already recovered

9 tenancies have been recovered

Reporting social housing fraud

Email: raiseyourconcern@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Online: bit.ly/report-fraud-col

Phone: 020 7332 3663 (24 hour confidential)

Post: Head of Audit and Risk Management City of London Corporation Guildhall, PO Box 270 London EC2P 2EJ

Before submitting your concerns

Remember to include all your personal details and the details of your concern.

To aid in any subsequent investigation, it would be helpful if you could tell us as much as you know about the issue, particularly if you choose to leave an anonymous message. Provide as many details as possible of what you have witnessed and/or heard. Where possible, include dates, times, places and people involved. All reports received are treated in confidence.

Why is this work important?

The recovery of properties lost to fraud enables the City to provide good quality, affordable housing to those in the greatest need.

Did you know - we often share Social Housing Fraud case studies in our monthly newsletters.