Housing and tenancy fraud

The council are under ever increasing pressure for the provision of social housing so we have to make sure that our homes go to and are occupied by those legally entitled to them. If you are on the waiting list you will wait even longer if homes are allocated to or occupied by those who have no right to be there.

How to report housing and tenancy fraud

Fraud reporting hotline – 0800 528 0294 or socialhousingfraud@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

You don't need to leave your details when giving us the fraud information. If you do want to leave your details, they will be kept in the strictest confidence.

Tenancy fraud is a criminal offence and you will be prosecuted under the prevention of social housing fraud act 2013 (POSHFA).

Convictions can result in a fine, imprisonment or both. The courts also have the power to make the tenant pay back any profit made from the fraud.

Examples of tenancy fraud

Application / allocation fraud

A prospective tenant knowingly provides false information on their housing application in order to gain a property.

Subletting fraud

A tenant rents out all or part of their property on a short or long term basis to someone else without the knowledge and permission of landlord.

Right to buy fraud

A tenant knowingly provides false information when applying to buy the house they live in under the scheme.

Succession fraud

A person moves into a property when the legal tenant either dies or moves away and that person does not have the right to move in.

Tenancy fraud officers work closely with other departments in the council and external agencies and we do make regular visits and checks both in and out of the borough. We will actively pursue any persons who are committing any type of housing fraud to ensure that our housing is occupied by those with both the right and the need to be there.