Our tenancy fraud policy defines what we consider housing fraud, what we will do to prevent it, and what actions we will take when we find it. This is part of our corporate anti-fraud policy, which underpins our corporate anti-fraud and corruption strategy.
Commitment
Our policy on tenancy fraud states our commitment to tackling housing fraud. It details the measures we take to prevent fraud, and the actions we take to make sure our homes are only occupied by people who have the legal right to live there.
We use the following measures:
- Partnership – we will work in partnership to tackle reports of tenancy fraud with other Council departments and external agencies.
- Communication – where appropriate, we will publicise cases of tenancy fraud.
- Prevention – we identify opportunities to prevent tenancy fraud.
- Enforcement – we take enforcement action to stop tenancy fraud and to make sure social housing is used for its intended purpose.
- Performance – we look at ways to continually improve our performance on tackling tenancy fraud.
Prevention
We know the importance of different departments and agencies working together to tackle housing fraud.
We use several key methods when trying to prevent housing fraud, including:
- The use of data analytics and credit reference agency checks to prevent fraud.
- Working closely with other partners and sharing information appropriately.
- Carrying out rigorous checks at registration and allocation stage including photographic ID.
- The introduction of photographing new tenants at sign up to eliminate ID abuse and misrepresentation.
- Making sure new tenants are fully aware of their responsibilities under the tenancy agreement.
- Carrying out appraisals visits for all new introductory tenancies.
- Actively investigating all reports and complaints of tenancy fraud to establish the facts and act where appropriate. A fraud reporting form is available on our website.
- Publicising national fraud hotlines as part of specific fraud drives.
- Investigating refusals to allow us to enter the property, for example, to carry out gas safety checks, essential repairs, or general access visits.
- Publicising cases of proven tenancy fraud.
- Continually reviewing and implementing best practice.
Principles and standards
We apply a variety of principles and standards when dealing with tenancy fraud problems. But the most important thing is to recover properties to make sure social housing is used for its intended purpose.
We follow these principles and standards:
- We will respond promptly to reports of tenancy fraud.
- All reports of tenancy fraud will be taken seriously and clearly documented with an accurate record of contacts, investigations and actions taken.
- All appropriate investigations will be conducted professionally and to the required level of thoroughness and detail to establish relevant facts and find a solution.
- The complainants’ identity is confidential unless they agree to have it disclosed. If this affects the type of action that we are able to take, we will discuss it with the person concerned.
- All persons who are the subject of an investigation into suspected housing tenancy fraud will be always treated fairly and courteously.
- We will consider publicising cases of proven tenancy fraud.
- We will treat each case as being unique and deal with it based on the circumstances of that case. Action taken will be proportionate and appropriate.
Tackling fraud
We investigate all reports or possible fraudulent abuse with our partners, where appropriate, based on our principles and standards.
We have zero tolerance policy towards fraudulent activities.
