CouncilReporting housing fraud
Tower Hamlets is committed to tackling housing fraud; we have a duty to protect our residents rent and service charges and to make sure people don’t abuse the system.
If you suspect fraud you can tell us about your concerns using our on line form report housing fraud
You can also report suspected fraud direct by calling the fraud hotline on 020 7364 1222.
Calls to the fraud hotline are treated in strict confidence and you can remain anonymous, or leave your name and details if you want us to keep you informed about the action we take.
Outside normal office hours you can leave an answer phone message 020 7364 7443 (24 hour answer phone).
Housing Benefits
You may know or suspect that someone on benefits who:
- is sub-letting the property where they claim benefits and is living elsewhere
- has not told the Housing Benefits team about someone else living in their home
- is claiming housing benefits using a false identity
- is working but has not told the Housing Benefits team about their income
- owns property or has assets they have not told the Housing Benefits team about
Housing
You may know or suspect someone who:
- is not living at their council property (may be illegally subletting or applying for the right to buy)
- has obtained a council tenancy using a false identity
- has obtained the right to buy but doesn’t qualify
- has applied to the Council as homeless but has somewhere to live
Illegal subletting
Residents with tenancies are not allowed to rent out their home and live somewhere else – this is called illegal sub-letting.
Tower Hamlets council takes illegal subletting very seriously, the demand for our homes is very high and illegal subletting deprives people who want to transfer or who are in housing need. We will investigate every case and take legal action for possession of the property whenever we can.
You are allowed to rent out a room in your house as long as you let us know. You can also have someone look after your home if you have to go away for a lengthy period of time, for example, a long term hospital stay or to visit family abroad. If you want to do this you should ask our permission first.
We carry out regular tenancy audits on a programmed basis and in response to reports from residents and from other sources. If we find someone else in your home that you have not told us about and you appear to be living elsewhere we will take legal action to end your tenancy.
Residents who own their own home (known as leaseholders) can rent a room or sublet their home without our permission but they should let us know as it can affect their building insurance.
Advice on renting
If you are offered somewhere to live on a Tower Hamlets council estate, please ask for identification and a copy of the lease or tenancy agreement to confirm that they are a genuine leaseholder or genuine tenant and Tower Hamlets has given permission for them to rent a room or have someone look after your home.
If you sign a tenancy agreement to rent somewhere to live from someone who does not have the council’s permission, we will take action to evict the tenant and you will lose the accommodation and any rent and deposit paid.
If you are living in a property but you’re not sure if the person you are renting from is a genuine tenant or leaseholder or has permission to rent it to you, please contact your local housing office for advice and guidance.
Checking identities
Tower Hamlets council always checks the identities of people accessing its services. This is to make sure only genuine tenants and leaseholders live in our properties and benefit from the services they pay for and to help prevent housing fraud and identity theft.
You will be asked to prove your identity if you:
- are a new tenant signing for a tenancy
- want to apply for a move
- want to make a change to your tenancy
- want to buy your home
- want to rent a garage or parking space
- make a claim for an allowance or payment
- are subject to a tenancy audit (this is a regular check we make of all our residents with tenancies to make sure only the genuine tenant and their family is living at the property)
If you are asked to prove your identity or your relationship to the tenant, please co-operate and help us stop people abusing the system. We don’t ask for any more identification than would be expected to open a bank account. You can provide at least 2 of the following:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage/Civil partnership certificate
- Driving licence
- Passport
- Bank account or credit card (with a statement from within the last 3 months)
- Benefit book or letter from Benefit Agency
We also expect and will check that every occupant is registered on:
- the electoral roll (if over 18)
- the council tax register
- any housing benefit claim
- any lettings application
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