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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Crackdown on council house cheats | Crackdown on council house cheats |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government is launching a crackdown on thousands of cheats who fraudulently acquire or sublet their council and housing association homes. | The government is launching a crackdown on thousands of cheats who fraudulently acquire or sublet their council and housing association homes. |
| Up to 50,000 homes in England are sublet by people who live elsewhere and earn thousands of pounds by charging higher rental rates for the properties. | Up to 50,000 homes in England are sublet by people who live elsewhere and earn thousands of pounds by charging higher rental rates for the properties. |
| Housing minister John Healey wants to recover up to 10,000 homes and give them to those in real need. | Housing minister John Healey wants to recover up to 10,000 homes and give them to those in real need. |
| More than 140 councils have signed up to the government's crackdown already. | More than 140 councils have signed up to the government's crackdown already. |
| We can't allow cheats to hang onto the tenancies of council houses they don't need and don't live in John Healey, housing minister | |
| Councils and housing associations will benefit from a share of £4m to set up their own anti-fraud initiatives. | Councils and housing associations will benefit from a share of £4m to set up their own anti-fraud initiatives. |
| This will include special hotlines and crack squads to investigate fraud allegations. | This will include special hotlines and crack squads to investigate fraud allegations. |
| £500 rewards | £500 rewards |
| Mr Healey will hand over information about 8,000 potential cheats, found when the Audit Commission compared tenancy records against those held by councils, housing associations and other public bodies. | Mr Healey will hand over information about 8,000 potential cheats, found when the Audit Commission compared tenancy records against those held by councils, housing associations and other public bodies. |
| He is also offering a reward of £500 to anyone who helps trap a cheat. Half of all homes recovered from cheats are as a result of tip-offs from neighbours. | He is also offering a reward of £500 to anyone who helps trap a cheat. Half of all homes recovered from cheats are as a result of tip-offs from neighbours. |
| Those who are caught will lose their home and may lose the right to rent a social housing property in the future. | Those who are caught will lose their home and may lose the right to rent a social housing property in the future. |
| Mr Healey said: "We can't allow cheats to hang onto the tenancies of council houses they don't need and don't live in. I want people to feel the system for housing families who need homes is fairer." | |
| Residents in the sublet properties may not know about the fraud. | Residents in the sublet properties may not know about the fraud. |
| About 80% do not qualify for social housing and will have to find a new home in the private sector. | About 80% do not qualify for social housing and will have to find a new home in the private sector. |
| Research by the Audit Commission shows the number of homes unlawfully acquired or sublet could be anything from one in 100 to one in 20 in inner-city areas, and as many as 50,000 across the country. | Research by the Audit Commission shows the number of homes unlawfully acquired or sublet could be anything from one in 100 to one in 20 in inner-city areas, and as many as 50,000 across the country. |
| 'Blight on communities' | |
| Legitimate landlords have welcomed the government's crackdown. | |
| Simon Gordon, from the National Landlords Association (NLA), said: "To be a bona fide landlord, is to be able to legally let a property and manage the subsequent tenancy. | |
| "Those individuals who are fraudulently subletting their social housing properties are a blight on communities and the NLA welcomes this Government crackdown. | |
| "As always in these situations, it is the most vulnerable who will suffer at the hands of bogus landlords charging higher rents and not knowing how to successfully manage the tenancy." | |
| The Chartered Institute of Housing has provided guidance to landlords and local authorities, to help clamp down on the illegal subletting. | |
| Its chief executive, Sarah Webb, said: "Unlawful subletting and occupation of scarce affordable housing is worse than theft. | |
| "In addition to the financial loss to the public, it also means some families are missing out on a decent, affordable home and all that this can bring." | |
| It costs £3,000 to recover a home from a tenancy cheat, compared to the total cost of building a new council or housing association property, which is in excess of £100,000. | It costs £3,000 to recover a home from a tenancy cheat, compared to the total cost of building a new council or housing association property, which is in excess of £100,000. |
| Have you been evicted from a property because your landlord was a council tenancy cheat? | Have you been evicted from a property because your landlord was a council tenancy cheat? |
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