After only a few months of collaborating with a new Housing Association (HA), we have made our first property recovery and the keys have been handed back.
A housing tenancy fraud case was opened when concerns were initially raised by the HA, after a conversation with a member of its call centre team and a tenant’s son. There were genuine concerns that the true tenants were rarely seen by other residents, and the HA were suspicious that the son was living there instead.
Investigations quickly found that the registered tenants were abroad, despite on a residency check they were found to be in occupation. Following a detailed review of their bank accounts, it revealed their spending habits abroad and contributed to the evidence which supported our belief that they lived abroad rather than at the rented property.
We visited the property and met with the tenants. During this visit we asked to see their passports (for identification purposes), but they were reluctant to share these documents. We advised them that they needed to attend an interview and that we expected them to bring their passports with them. However, when they arrived at the meeting, they didn’t produce their passports and claimed that they were not aware that they needed to bring them.
During the interview, the couple were very surprised when we started going through their bank transactions in detail and were taken aback by the fact that we were able to access this financial information.
Throughout the meeting they maintained that the UK was their main and principal home, but they did go on holiday regularly. During the meeting they did eventually produce their passports.
From there we took their statements, issued a warning about making false statements and advised them that a decision, following the conclusion of our investigations, would be posted to them.
A few days later, we received an email from the tenants stating that they wished to surrender the tenancy and handed the keys back early.
A spokesperson from the HA said. “Subletting of any type is an illegal act and stops a family, in genuine need of housing, to live there. Working with HTFI sends a clear message that we will act against anyone committing housing tenancy fraud.”
We have no doubt that through our new partnership with this HA we will continue to investigate and retrieve housing stock, which is so desperately needed.
If you suspect anyone of committing housing tenancy fraud or would like us to investigate any allegations on behalf of your organisation, then give us a call on 0207 370 0027 or email us at info@htfi.co.uk.
