West Lothian Council has launched a month-long programme aimed at tackling tenancy fraud.
The practice, most often holding onto a council home while living somewhere else, can cost the council thousands, as well as depriving others of a home in the midst of a housing crisis.
Earlier this year the council identified 10 new tenancy frauds as part of its annual counter fraud update across council services.
A Key Return Initiative has been launched as part of the International Fraud Awareness Week launched this week and will run until 5 January.
It gives tenants, and potential tenants the chance to return keys and also cancel misleading applications made for housing.
Tenancy Fraud creates particular issues for local authorities and housing organisations, especially in the midst of a national housing crisis.
Tenancy Fraud occurs when a home is occupied by someone who is either not legally entitled to be there, has obtained use of the property fraudulently or leaves the property empty while living elsewhere.
In Scotland, tackling tenancy fraud is a priority for local authorities and housing associations, as it deprives those in genuine need of affordable housing. Scottish housing law provides mechanisms for landlords to investigate and take legal action against fraudulent tenants, including reclaiming properties that have been obtained or retained through deception.
A council spokesperson said: “We take reports of tenancy fraud very seriously and these are investigated by our Housing Officers in the first instance, then passed to the council’s Counter Fraud Team for full investigation.
“Anyone committing tenancy fraud risks not only gaining a criminal record but could also ultimately face imprisonment.”
One such investigation by Housing and the Counter Fraud Team confirmed that a council tenant was not occupying the property as their principal home and was illegally subletting the property.
Police were also involved in the matter due to the suspected supply of drugs from the property. Housing Services ultimately recovered the property and it has been re-let to another council tenant.
The Key Return Initiative is an opportunity for tenants or applicants to:
- Return keys for properties they are no longer using as their principle home
- Return keys for homes that were obtained using false information
- Cancel misrepresented housing applications
- Withdraw homeless applications made using misleading evidence
Keys can be dropped off anonymously at any of the Housing Offices listed below. Only the address needs to be provided.
- Bathgate: Jim Walker Partnership Centre
- Whitburn: Whitburn Partnership Centre
- Breich Valley: 1 Library House, Harburn Road
- Livingston: West Lothian Council Civic Centre
- Broxburn: Strathbrock Partnership Centre
George Paul , the Executive councillor for Housing services, said: “Tenancy Fraud creates significant issues for local authorities and housing organisations, especially in the midst of a national housing crisis.
“We take reports of tenancy fraud very seriously and these are investigated by our Housing Officers in the first instance, then passed to our Counter Fraud Team for full investigation.
“We would urge relevant parties to take part in our key return initiative. At a time when people are in desperate need of social housing it is imperative our homes are available for genuine tenants.”
For more information regarding what you can do to help prevent Tenancy Fraud, please see https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/83808/Tenancy-Fraud
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
