RBH say ‘no’ to sub letting cheats

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing logo

A scheme to prevent cheats from sub letting their council homes is gaining widespread support from tenants.

After appealing for help from members of the public to stop housing cheats Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) is now helping to tackle the nationwide problem of housing fraud.

As well as putting an end to the huge profits to be made they are ensuring that homes are given to people in genuine housing need who have waited their turn and therefore rightly deserve them.

RBH’s Chief Executive, Gareth Swarbrick, said: “RBH is committed to tackling this problem because housing fraud is a serious issue. Genuine applicants for council housing are penalised by others trying to fiddle the system. We will take swift and robust action to deal with these people and recover the properties for those genuinely in need of them.”

Unlawful sub-letting is when someone pays rent to a council tenant for their home, or when a tenant leaves a property and passes on the keys for money. It can also happen when a tenant unlawfully takes over a tenancy or signs up for a council house using false information.

“Any such case is unfair and it is depriving those with greater need of a home,” added Mr Swarbrick.

The government believes that the crackdown could result in thousands of homes becoming available because they are currently being unlawfully sublet. In many cases the homes are being re-let for extortionate rents.

RBH manage nearly 14,000 council homes across the borough and are taking a firm approach to this growing problem. As part of a national government scheme run by the Audit Commission they have been given funding to tackle this issue and the initiative is being led by RBH’s in-house Legal Services Team. Posters giving details of who to contact to report suspected fraudsters are now displayed in housing offices across the borough.

In addition to the possibility of having their tenancy terminated those who unlawfully sub-let a council home will soon become liable for criminal action. 

Mr Swarbrick said: “There is great demand for social housing, and it is fundamental to the quality of life of families and individuals in Rochdale, who cannot afford to buy properties or who are unable to find suitable affordable accommodation in the private sector. “