A Barnet housing association flat overlooking Hampstead Heath has been freed up for a family that genuinely needs it thanks to a new fraud campaign by Barnet Homes and Barnet Council.

The housing fraud investigation, carried out on behalf of Genesis Housing Group, was sparked following a tip-off from a member of the public concerned that the flat was being illegally sublet.

Further credit checks by Barnet Homes showed that the tenant owned and was living in a property in neighbouring Enfield. By law, tenants must use their housing association property as their principal home.

Three days after being interviewed by the fraud officers, the tenant emailed Genesis Housing Group stating that she would hand back the keys, so ending any claim to the flat.

Barnet Council now has the right to nominate the home to a family who are in genuine need of social housing.

This flat is just one of 15 homes that have so far been recovered since the launch of a new fraud campaign by Barnet Homes and Barnet Council’s Corporate Anti Fraud team earlier this year.

Re-letting these properties to families currently living in temporary accommodation equates to an annual saving to taxpayers of almost £200,000 a year.

Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “I’d like to thank members of the public for any information that helps us stamp out fraud and stops illegal subletting of social housing.

“There is enormous demand for social housing in Barnet and we’re determined to regain possession of homes that aren’t being occupied by genuine tenants.
I’m pleased with our success in uncovering so many cases of fraud in the past few months.”

The campaign included the introduction of tenancy fraud officers to root out illegal subletting of homes, non-occupation of properties, attempts to abuse the succession rules for passing on a council tenancy, and housing benefit fraud.

The fraud officers are currently working on dozens more cases of suspected cases of housing fraud.

A report by the Audit Commission published earlier this month showed that housing fraud could be costing councils nationwide as much as £900million a year.

Any resident who suspects housing fraud is taking place at council or housing association properties in Barnet should call 020 8359 7254 or email talk2us@barnethomes.org.