Birmingham City Council says its tenancy fraud team has saved almost £5m over the past year by investigating fraudulent social housing claims, recovering homes and preventing ineligible Right to Buy purchases.
The savings include action against tenants who were illegally subletting council properties, as well as fraudulent or unfunded Right to Buy applications.
During the year, the council recovered 36 homes and returned them to the social housing stock for families in genuine need.
Investigations also led to the cancellation of 210 housing applications and 12 Right to Buy applications.
The council said its fraud officers dealt with a range of offences, including illegal subletting, false housing applications, fraudulent Right to Buy claims, tenants no longer living at their registered address and unlawful succession claims.
Right to Buy enforcement increased significantly during the year, with almost four times as many applications cancelled as in the previous 12 months.
According to the council, the increase reflects improved intelligence gathering rather than a rise in fraud. It credits closer working between council departments, stronger officer presence on estates and higher-quality referrals for the improved results.
The authority is encouraging residents to report suspected tenancy fraud, including illegal subletting, false housing applications, fraudulent Right to Buy claims and the unauthorised occupation of council homes following a tenant’s death.
Cllr Baber Baz, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Tenancy fraud deprives people of a much-needed home – we will not tolerate it and will use the full extent of the law to root out people abusing the system.
“Demand for housing in Birmingham is at an all time high, with more than 35,000 people on the housing register in Birmingham waiting for a good and safe home.
“It is therefore extremely welcome that we are taking action to ensure each council home goes to someone who needs it, while saving a significant amount of taxpayer’s money.
“I also want to thank the honest tenants and residents throughout the city; their tip-offs and reports are invaluable to help us combat tenancy fraud.”
