Croydon Council is stepping up action against tenancy fraud, to return homes to residents who have been waiting years for safe, secure accommodation.
The Council completed 141 tenancy investigations and recovered 36 council homes in the last year – saving an estimated £2.8m for the borough.
With more than 8,600 households on Croydon’s waiting list and only around 800 social homes becoming available each year, recovering these homes is essential.
Tenancy fraud includes subletting, false applications, illegal succession claims and people living elsewhere whilst keeping a council home. The Council also finds cases where tenants have stopped living in their home for long periods. These cases are not always fraudulent, but they still lead to homes being recovered and re-let to residents who need them.
Every allegation of fraud is checked by the Counter Fraud Shared Service, which works across Croydon and Lambeth Councils. By working together, they can share expertise and resources to stop housing fraud and make sure properties are used fairly.
Recovering these homes also saves public money. The government estimates the value of each recovered tenancy in London at £78,300. Based on Croydon’s 36 recoveries last year, this is a saving of about £2.8 million.
In one investigation, a resident reported that a tenant had moved out two years earlier, leaving her adult daughter living in the home. Officers carried out unannounced visits and found clear signs the tenant no longer lived there. Further checks showed the tenant was living at another privately owned address. She later gave up the council flat, and it has since been re-let to a family on the waiting list.
In another case, officers found a property that appeared abandoned for a long period and neighbours had not seen the tenant for months. Checks showed the tenant was living elsewhere, and the Council took the home back and re-let it.
Another recent investigation began when government records showed that a long-term Croydon tenant had bought a £650,000 property whilst still holding her council home. Checks confirmed she had a joint mortgage on the new home. When officers visited, her husband confirmed they both lived there. The tenant later admitted she had moved and that the council property was being used occasionally by her adult daughter. This home has now been recovered.
Resident reports are crucial. Six cases reported by residents are currently under investigation, and four have been completed and passed to the Council’s housing and legal teams for further action. In some cases, the courts are now involved to return properties to the Council so they can be offered to people who genuinely need them.
“Like other Councils, Croydon has a shortage of Council homes and thousands of households waiting for a safe, secure place to live. We cannot allow anyone to take advantage of the system or keep a home they are not entitled to.
“As in many areas of Council business we are taking a zero-tolerance approach to the issue of housing fraud.
Every home that is fraudulently held is one taken away from someone who genuinely needs support. We will continue to act on every case of tenancy fraud. If you try to cheat the system, we will take action.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
Residents can report any concerns about tenancy fraud using this online form.
