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Met Police officer unlawfully subletting council flat | Met Police officer unlawfully subletting council flat |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been unlawfully subletting his council flat, according to a BBC Panorama investigation. | A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been unlawfully subletting his council flat, according to a BBC Panorama investigation. |
Pc Stephen Holt offered to rent his council property to an undercover reporter at £359 more than he pays Southwark Council in weekly rent. | Pc Stephen Holt offered to rent his council property to an undercover reporter at £359 more than he pays Southwark Council in weekly rent. |
The government has labelled unlawful subletting "housing fraud", which costs the taxpayer at least £1bn a year. | The government has labelled unlawful subletting "housing fraud", which costs the taxpayer at least £1bn a year. |
Pc Holt did not respond to Panorama's queries about the council flat rental. | Pc Holt did not respond to Panorama's queries about the council flat rental. |
As part of its investigation into social housing, Panorama replied to an advert Pc Holt placed on a website and an undercover reporter went to view the flat. | As part of its investigation into social housing, Panorama replied to an advert Pc Holt placed on a website and an undercover reporter went to view the flat. |
Pc Holt, a part-time crime prevention officer and a part-time property developer who has appeared on daytime TV property programmes, showed the reporter around the flat near Butler's Wharf, close to Tower Bridge in London. | Pc Holt, a part-time crime prevention officer and a part-time property developer who has appeared on daytime TV property programmes, showed the reporter around the flat near Butler's Wharf, close to Tower Bridge in London. |
Cash deposit | Cash deposit |
He offered the flat to the reporter at £450 for the week. Rent on the Southwark council flat is £91 a week. | He offered the flat to the reporter at £450 for the week. Rent on the Southwark council flat is £91 a week. |
Panorama paid the rental fee in cash, along with a £200 cash deposit. | Panorama paid the rental fee in cash, along with a £200 cash deposit. |
Under the terms of his tenancy, Pc Holt should be living in the property and should not be renting it out. | Under the terms of his tenancy, Pc Holt should be living in the property and should not be renting it out. |
Pc Holt told Panorama's undercover reporter that any post that arrived in his name could be directed to the flat opposite, which Pc Holt owns. | Pc Holt told Panorama's undercover reporter that any post that arrived in his name could be directed to the flat opposite, which Pc Holt owns. |
The Audit Commission believes that unlawful subletting of properties is currently removing at least 50,000 council homes from the system in England, adding to the wider shortage at a time when almost five million people in the country are on waiting lists for social housing. | The Audit Commission believes that unlawful subletting of properties is currently removing at least 50,000 council homes from the system in England, adding to the wider shortage at a time when almost five million people in the country are on waiting lists for social housing. |
While showing the reporter around property, Pc Holt also said that he owned a chateau in Bordeaux in the south of France. Pc Holt also owns a property in rural Kent. | While showing the reporter around property, Pc Holt also said that he owned a chateau in Bordeaux in the south of France. Pc Holt also owns a property in rural Kent. |
The tenant of a council property is not prohibited from owning other properties. | The tenant of a council property is not prohibited from owning other properties. |
'We can't help you' | 'We can't help you' |
With subletting adding to a growing social housing problem and demand outstripping supply, Portsmouth Council is informing new inquirers and many on its waiting list they are unlikely to be offered council accommodation. | With subletting adding to a growing social housing problem and demand outstripping supply, Portsmouth Council is informing new inquirers and many on its waiting list they are unlikely to be offered council accommodation. |
"Most people on a council waiting list are never, ever going to get offers of council accommodation," said Pete Diamond, a housing officer with Portsmouth Council. | "Most people on a council waiting list are never, ever going to get offers of council accommodation," said Pete Diamond, a housing officer with Portsmouth Council. |
"I just think the fairest way of doing it is just to be honest and just say to people, 'look, you may have a housing need, you may have all this situation going on but we still can't help you'," Mr Diamond continued. | "I just think the fairest way of doing it is just to be honest and just say to people, 'look, you may have a housing need, you may have all this situation going on but we still can't help you'," Mr Diamond continued. |
Panorama wrote to Pc Holt, asking him to respond to the allegations but did not receive a reply. Other attempts to contact him failed. | Panorama wrote to Pc Holt, asking him to respond to the allegations but did not receive a reply. Other attempts to contact him failed. |
Panorama contacted Southwark Council about Pc Holt. | Panorama contacted Southwark Council about Pc Holt. |
Following council investigations, Pc Holt has been issued with a notice to quit the property. | Following council investigations, Pc Holt has been issued with a notice to quit the property. |
Panorama's Council Houses: Cheats and Victims, BBC One, Wednesday, 4 May at 2100 BST and then available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer. | Panorama's Council Houses: Cheats and Victims, BBC One, Wednesday, 4 May at 2100 BST and then available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer. |
What is your experience of council housing? Are you on a waiting list? You can send us your comments using the form below. | What is your experience of council housing? Are you on a waiting list? You can send us your comments using the form below. |
Chasing council house cheats |