This week the Leeds City Council has urged residents to report any suspicious housing matters as part of Tenancy Fraud Awareness week, which runs until 5 February.
In line with the initiative, social landlords from across the Yorkshire and Humberside region have joined forces to blow the whistle on tenancy fraud and encourage locals to “shine the light” on potential offenders in their area.
Following changes to the law in 2013, it is illegal to abandon or sublet a social housing property without permission as well as to lie on an application form. The Leeds council has reportedly uncovered more than 250 cases of housing fraud and has issued a dedicated team to help tackle the growing issue by actively investigating and prosecuting those involved.
The council is also taking action against tenants trying to sublet their council homes on the internet and have recently convicted a former council tenant who was caught advertising and accepting money for their council home from an unsuspecting member of the public. Another similar case in 2015 saw the council uncover a tenant in Otley who had lied on their social housing application form, stating that they were homeless whilst they were already a housing association tenant.
Ison Harrison’s Property Law experts have a thorough understanding of the social housing sector and are able to assist registered social housing landlords on the various legalities involved with managing their properties and tenancies. Sarah Roberts, from our Leeds Commercial Property Team said:
“By promoting awareness of the recent legislation in this manner we are hopeful that it will allow social landlords to provide housing to those with a genuine housing need which is something that we are passionate about.”
If you wish to report a case of housing fraud in your area you can do so anonymously by calling Housing Leeds on 0800 188 4000 or emailing tenancyfraud@leeds.gov.uk.
