Crackdown on housing fraud amid affordable homes crisis

Teams of specialist investigators are staging the operation in York amid growing concerns over the scale of housing fraud in the city and across the country.

The Audit Commission has estimated that up to 50,000 social properties are being occupied unlawfully across the nation, while at the same time housing waiting lists have soared by 50 per cent.

The clampdown in York, dubbed Operation Red Card, will focus on the most common types of housing fraud, and will involve a specialist fraud-busting firm, called Veritau, which was launched last year.

York Council's head of housing, Steve Waddington, said: "Social rented properties are in relatively short supply in York and there are hundreds of individuals and families who are on the waiting list for a home. Housing fraud stops these people getting the home they deserve."

Illegal sub-letting remains one of the biggest problems where legal tenants rent out their council or housing association property to other people, often at a higher rate than what they are being charged by the local authority.

Other major fraud problems include false applications where a tenant secures a council or housing association home by making false representations, for example by not revealing that they own or rent a property elsewhere.

Another issue is non-residency, where a person has moved out of their council or housing association property but has not told their landlord.

Veritau was formed by York Council and North Yorkshire County Council in April last year and has since identified more than 300,000 of fraud and incorrect payments in the benefits system.

Veritau's director, Max Thomas, said: "We are committed to working in partnership with the council and other social landlords in the area to put a stop to people who are abusing the housing system."

It is hoped the council and social landlords including the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and Yorkshire Housing Association will be able to reclaim properties that are being misused and re-allocate them to bona fide tenants.

Residents are urged to report suspected housing fraud by calling 01904 552935 or emailing [email protected].