Housing fraud

Most people applying for housing wait their turn to be allocated a home. Housing cheats don't wait, they jump the queue. It's not fair.

They use up valuable housing spaces which deprive those in greater need. They are guilty of housing fraud.

Do you know someone who has:

• Rented out their Council or housing association home without permission?
• Obtained their home through false information?

Speak out if you have suspicions.

If you suspect someone of housing fraud, contact South Tyneside Council Housing Services on:

Phone: 0300 123 6633
Email: connect2@southtyneside.gov.uk

or

Report housing fraud online

Your report will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be given anonymously.

Housing benefit fraud

If you suspect someone of receiving housing benefit they are not entitled to please call the National Benefit Fraud hotline on 0800 854 440. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

If you have speech or hearing problems you can use a text phone service on 0800 328 0512.

Or alternatively you can make a report online at GOV.UK: National Benefit Fraud Hotline

Your report will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be given anonymously.

There are different types of housing fraud. Here are some of the most common:

Unlawful subletting

When a tenant lets out their Council or housing association home without the knowledge or permission of their landlord they are unlawfully subletting.

They often continue to pay the rent for the property directly to their landlord, but charge the person they are subletting to a much higher rate. It is not fair to sublet and to profit from a property which could be given to someone in greater need.

Obtaining housing by deception

When a person gets a Council or housing association home by giving false information in their application, for example not telling the landlord they are renting another Council or housing association property, they are committing housing fraud.

Wrongly claimed succession

When a tenant dies, there are rules that say what should be done with the tenancy. Unentitled claiming of a property when a tenant dies is when someone, who is not entitled, tries to take over the tenancy. For example, they might say they lived with the tenant before they died, when in fact they were living elsewhere.

We are working hard to track down housing cheats and make sure that homes are given to people who are next in line.

Your help in reporting fraud is important because you can see what is happening in your neighbourhood.

• You might know that someone has a home that the landlord doesn't know about or if they have given false information in their housing application
• You might suspect someone of housing fraud if you have seen them collect rent from your neighbours
• You might be suspicious because the tenants of a property keep changing

If you suspect someone is a housing cheat, please let us know. It could make a big difference to people in real need.

We will investigate your concerns and the necessary action will be taken.

If someone is found to have committed housing fraud that person could lose their tenancy.