Tackling tenancy fraud

November 20, 2024 | India Ikonomides

Over 1.2 million households are currently on the waiting list for social housing across the UK, and people who commit tenancy fraud take homes away from people in genuine housing need.  

This year’s International Fraud Awareness Week takes place from the 18th to 24th November, and we hope this blog will help to raise awareness of how we can stop tenancy fraud, together.  

What is tenancy fraud?

There are six different types of tenancy fraud to be aware of: 

1. Unlawful subletting – someone rents out their home without asking their landlord’s permission 
2. Housing by deception – someone gets a home by giving false information on their housing application 
3. Wrongly claimed succession – where the person living in the property dies and someone takes over the tenancy, which they are not entitled to 
4. Key selling – someone pays a resident to pass on their keys for payment 
5. Unlawful assignment – a resident stops using their tenancy as their main or principal home, they then let another person to live there without permission from their landlord 
6. False Right to Buy/Right to Acquire – a customer or resident makes a Right to Buy or Right to Acquire application and gives false information in their application. 

Tenancy fraud is also a crime and can result in up to two years in prison and a fine of up to £50,000. 

What are Onward doing to tackle tenancy fraud?

We are committed to getting the basics right for our customers. Tenancy fraud deprives those in real need of social housing, and we are committed to tackling it by: 

• raising awareness amongst colleagues and customers  

• putting measures in place to prevent tenancy fraud  

• treating all reported cases confidentially and professionally 

• regaining possession of properties through enforcement, pursuing unlawful profit and criminal cases  

• working with partners to prevent and detect tenancy fraud 

• monitoring, reviewing and reporting on tenancy fraud cases, highlighting our successes, challenges and lessons 

In addition to promoting tenancy fraud to on our website, social media and in our newsletters, we’ve also worked with the National Anti-Fraud Network and students at the University of Bolton to create a series of promotional materials to raise awareness of tenancy fraud. 

How can I report tenancy fraud? 

If you think you know someone who is committing tenancy fraud, please let us know by calling 0300 555 0600 or filling in our online form.  

Any reports can be made confidentially.