HTFI’s Work Tackling Housing Tenancy Fraud Makes Headlines
Our team has helped to prosecute numerous cases of fraud which has lead to local and national press coverage. Read about some of the success stories here.
HTFI Delighted to Support Record-Breaking Summer Fun Events
- We're thrilled to share the incredible success of Phoenix Community Housing's Summer Fun programme, which HTFI was proud to sponsor this year. The results exceeded all expectations and demonstrated the real impact that community partnerships can have. The three...
Housing Tenancy Fraud Investigations Proudly Receives British Standard 102000 Certification for Excellence in Investigative Services
Housing Tenancy Fraud Investigations (HTFI) is thrilled to announce that we have once again been awarded the prestigious British Standard 102000 certification, establishing our commitment to excellence in the investigation industry. This certification,...
Spreading Festive Cheer across South London with Phoenix Community Housing
We were delighted to be able to help our friends at Phoenix Community Housing spread some festive cheer this month! Phoenix Community Housing is a not-for-profit, resident-led housing association based in South London. Over the past week, HTFI sponsored their...
Combating Fraud and Ensuring Ethical Housing Allocation: HTFI’s Role in Transforming Housing Associations
At Thames Valley Housing Association Ltd (MTVH), addressing housing tenancy fraud is a priority, marked by the creation of a dedicated role to investigate, and combat fraudulent practices within the realm of housing allocation.
How To Resolve Illegal Subletting.
Illegal subletting by social housing tenants is becoming an ever-increasing concern for housing associations, prompting the need for an increase in tenancy investigations.
How Can Housing Associations Tackle Illegal Room Subletting?
According to recent statistics, as many as 1 in 6 tenants have sublet to another person who is not on the tenancy agreement. 34% of these people did not inform their landlord.
What is unlawful subletting of social housing?
Social housing is a vital part of our society’s fabric. Our communities across Britain are supported by social tenancies so that people who need extra help can access a proper home.
But what happens when these homes are exploited for personal gain? We find out the truth.
5 Ways To Support Mental Health in Social Housing
Discover effective strategies for social housing providers to deliver effective mental health support for their tenants.
Succession Claim That Led To An Eviction.
There are not many types of tenancy fraud that the team are yet to encounter and one of the latest cases centred around a succession claim, where we had been advised by an alleged partner of the tenant that he had passed away. Read more to find out how this case ended.
First Housing Tenancy Recovery With New Housing Association Partner.
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.
Two Airbnb Unlawful Subletting’s in One Morning!
Recently we saw a land mark court ruling allowing Airbnb to share details with the Royal Kensington and Chelsea local authority, enabling them to use this intel to crack down on housing tenancy fraud.
An Eviction, Surrender of a Property and Admitting Subletting – all in one week!
The team at HTFI had a busy and productive week recently and successfully investigated unlawful subletting of properties happening in several boroughs, managed by different Housing Associations.
HTFI Housing Tenancy Fraud Case Studies
Property in Cambridge
Tenants were granted a joint tenancy in 1992, however, shortly after moving in the husband returned to his native country and the wife then moved her sister into the property to keep her company. Within a year, the remaining tenant bought her own house and moved out leaving her sister in the flat.
The sister remained in the property until just before Covid when she lost her job. The landlord was not aware of the sister’s presence in the property as the rent account remained in the original tenant’s name, although the sister had changed everything else into her name.
Our investigation confirmed the location of the original tenant and the sister’s presence in the household after which we conducted an early morning visit.
At this point the sister admitted her illegal occupation of the property and that she had misled the landlord for the last 27 years.
Despite the admission a two-day trial was planned however given the weight of evidence this was over in half a day with ‘Out Right’ possession and costs being awarded.
Wembley
For this case, we received information that showed that the tenant was linked to alternative addresses and another individual was linked to this property. Enquires proved this further and when a visit was conducted at the property a Romanian family were found to be in occupation who claimed that they had been there for approximately eight years.
The family disclosed the name of their ‘landlord’ who they paid their rent to which turned out to be the son of the actual tenant. Within the property there was a supposed locked room (which turned out to be unlocked), which was claimed to be the tenants, however there was no trace of any female belongings or possessions in the room.
The son attempted to state that the Romanian family, some of whom worked for the family, were carers for his mother.
Further evidence was found which showed that the tenant had been at, at least two other addresses, since leaving the property some six years earlier. One of these properties is where she was registered for council tax with the local council.
Following a lengthy interview with the tenant and one of her sons it was agreed that the property would be surrendered, and the keys were returned two weeks later.
Tenants in Spain
Allegations were received that tenants had left a property and were living in Spain, leaving their adult son and his wife in occupation.
Enquires showed that the tenants still had links to the property but that several of their accounts had been closed around the time we believed them to have left the UK.
Enquiries also revealed that similar allegations had been made to the local authority, but these had not been pursued as there were no benefits in payment.
Open-source investigation revealed a total of five Facebook accounts which showed the couple in Spain complete with pictures of the property and family members visiting on holiday.
The conversations between the family made it clear that the tenants were in Spain and the son and his wife were occupying the property.
Credit reference checks were also revealed an address in Spain for one of the current accounts that they held.
A visit was made to the address and the daughter in law answered the door and claimed that the tenants were on holiday. When pressed, it was made known that we knew exactly what was going on and that they had left some three years ago. They admitted the deception and the property was handed back without the need for civil action.
Queens Drive
A claim for succession was received, and unusually, this was received via a solicitors firm rather than direct from the relative or occupier of the property.
No death certificate was provided, and the applicant claimed that he had been in a same sex relationship with the ‘deceased’
Extensive enquires showed that no one knew of this alleged relationship and the applicant failed to provide any evidence to support his claim.
After some major detective work we were able to locate the ‘deceased’ who was actually alive and well and living with his wife and children outside of London, having left the property some twenty years ago.
Despite the overwhelming evidence the applicant pursued this through to the County Court. The judge fortunately was able to identify the major flaw in the applicants claim, the fact that the ‘deceased’ was still alive and had provided a statement signed a few weeks earlier.
Within several hours we were granted ‘Outright Possession’.
Shared Ownership Case in Hackney
Investigations identified that a shared owner (50%) had been absent from the property for about 24 years. The landlord was alerted by the local council who had received a request to register the property as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Enquires were able to locate several tenancy agreements issued to the various occupiers over the years and that the shared owner was now living in a social housing property having failed to declare that she owned 50% of a large house in Hackney.
The estimated income we were able to calculate from the information gathered was in excess of £300,000 over the 24 yrs.
As a solution to this deception, it was agreed that the shared owner would surrender her 50% of the property to the landlord in lieu of the profit gained from the subletting and that would be the end of the matter.
Shared Ownership in Harrow
A blanket exercise on a certain development identified a number of cases where the shared owner was abusing the shared ownership scheme and subletting the property.
For one such property, upon investigation, it appeared that the shared owner had bought into the property and had allowed his brother to live there, whilst he lived on the south coast.
All evidence placed the shared owner on the south coast and not at the London property. Although he denied the misuse despite having bought a house for himself on the coast the shared owner Staircased to 100% which resulted in receipts for the landlord of over £200,000.
