Did you know that subletting your home, providing false information to get your home, and owning or living in another home permanently are all types of tenancy fraud, and are illegal.
Tenancy fraud is a serious issue that prevents families from accessing affordable housing. Across the South West, there are thousands of households waiting on the housing register, with an estimated 300 new applicants every month in North Somerset alone.
What is tenancy fraud?
As a social landlord, we’re committed to providing homes to people registered with the local authority who are in genuine housing need and take the misuse of our homes seriously.
Our teams work closely with customers to respond to concerns, and all reports are taken seriously and handled confidentially.
Kirsty Wilson-Evans, Neighbourhoods Manager - Tenancy sits down to answer questions about tenancy fraud, what we’re doing to tackle it, and how you can help.
Q: What types of tenancy fraud do you see the most?
The housing crisis has had an impact on the instances of tenancy fraud. One common issue is customers trying to pass homes on to family members without following the proper process. While we understand the pressures people face, this stops others in urgent need from accessing affordable housing. We’re tackling the housing crisis by setting ambitious plans to build 2,000 new homes by 2033 but with the demand for affordable housing so high, every home counts.
Q: How can you spot signs that tenancy fraud might be happening?
I always encourage customers and residents to trust their instincts. Looking out for signs like a property being empty for long periods of time, or new people moving in and out regularly, these are giveaways that tenancy fraud might be happening.
You don’t need proof to report tenancy fraud, we’ll always take all reports seriously and confidentially.
Q: What role do customers and residents have in tackling tenancy fraud?
We can’t do this alone. Our colleagues, partners, customers, and residents all play an important role in making sure homes go to those who need them most.
If you’d like to discuss tenancy fraud or have concerns about the misuse of a property, get in touch with us.
For more information and tips on spotting tenancy fraud, visit our dedicated tenancy fraud webpage.