The council took back six one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom flats in the past year.

This action was taken to ensure that these homes are given to those who are most in need and entitled to live in them.

The council’s initiative comes in response to the high demand for housing in the city.

Some of the flats were being sublet, while others were abandoned by tenants who moved out without informing the council.

The reclaimed properties have now been allocated to people on the city’s housing register, with new tenants either settled in or preparing to move in.

The Cabinet Office estimates that each instance of tenancy fraud costs the public purse £78,300 a year.

This figure includes the cost of accommodating genuine applicants in temporary housing and other related expenses.

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Tenancy fraud can take various forms, including subletting or giving up a council property without permission, leaving a council property without informing the council, passing property keys to someone else for money, providing false information when applying for a property, wrongly claiming succession rights, and falsely attempting to purchase a council property under the Right to Buy scheme.

Councillor Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing and new homes, said: “Tenancy fraud is a criminal offence, and it is not a victimless crime.

“Fraudulent use of properties keeps homes away from people on the housing waiting list who need them more.

“There’s also a significant cost to the council and we will continue to take action against anyone found committing tenancy fraud.”

The council provided examples of fraud investigations that were initiated following information from the public.

In these cases, tenants voluntarily gave up their tenancies.

One tenant was living with their partner in another town while their council flat remained empty.

This tenant also made a Right to Buy application to purchase the property, which they were not entitled to do as they were not living in the property.

Another tenant was subletting their council home while renting a private flat nearby.

A third tenant abandoned their council flat to live in a house owned by their family.

The council urges anyone who suspects that someone is not living in their council house or is subletting it to report it in confidence.

Reports can be made via email to anti-fraud@brighton-hove.gov.uk, through the online form, or by calling 01273 291700.





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