Tenancy and Benefit Fraud
Tenancy and benefit fraud take homes and money away from people who really need them. You can help stop fraud and keep housing fair by reporting anything suspicious in your community.
Tenancy Fraud
Tenancy fraud can take place when someone gives false information to apply for a home. That could mean that they are offered a home which should have gone to someone in greater need.
Fraud can happen during the tenancy, too, where a tenant sublets all or part of their home to someone else so that they can make extra money illegally.
Tenancy fraud reduces the number of homes available for people who really need them. It’s not fair and it’s illegal. We are working hard to prevent tenancy fraud and you can help by reporting anything you might see as suspicious.
What are the different types of tenancy frauds?
Under the terms of your tenancy agreement, you are not allowed to sublet your property.
Where appropriate we will take legal action including repossession and recovery of profits if a customer is found to be in breach of their tenancy agreement.
This means taking over a tenancy unlawfully, for example falsely claiming to live with a social housing resident in order to take over a property after their death.
This is using false information or documents to obtain a property, for example deliberately providing false information on a housing or right to buy application.
Tenancy fraud has an impact on all of us. Crucially, it reduces the number of affordable homes that are available for people who really need them.
There is also an increased risk of damage to our homes and rent loss. This means we have to spend more money repairing homes and less on investing in improvement to your home and community projects.
Did you know?
- Nationally, it is estimated that at least 148,000 housing association homes are affected by some form of tenancy fraud. This has a direct impact on the thousands of people on waiting lists throughout the country, in temporary accommodation or looking to transfer to a more suitable home.
- Subletting is a criminal offence and for those found guilty the maximum penalties are:
- For the first offense: A find in the magistrates’ court with no maximum limit.
- For the second offense (unlawful subletting and acting dishonestly)
- In the magistrates’ court: up to 6 months in prison or a fine, or both
- In the Crown Court: Up to 2 years in prison or a fine, or both.
Please report it!
If you suspect tenancy fraud you can report it to us confidentially by calling our Customer Hub on 0333 200 7304.
Benefit Fraud – Know the Facts
Benefit fraud happens when someone deliberately provides false information or doesn’t report a change in circumstances to claim benefits they’re not entitled to.
Why it matters:
Benefit fraud takes money away from those who genuinely need support and can impact services across our communities. At Platform, we’re committed to fairness – and that means making sure benefits are claimed honestly.
Examples of benefit fraud may include:
- Not reporting a change in income or household
- Claiming to live alone while living with a partner
- Failing to declare savings or other property
How to report it:
If you suspect someone is committing benefit fraud, you can report it confidentially to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by
- Reporting it online: www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
- Calling the National Benefit Fraud Hotline: 0800 854 440
All reports are treated in confidence – you don’t have to give your name.