Southampton council launch “key amnesty” to cut housing fraud

Dubbed a “key amnesty”, the move aims to reduce council housing related crimes and free properties for people in genuine need.

For National Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week (15-21 Nov) investigations by the council into council housing fraud will be suspended throughout November and offenders will not face prosecution during this time.

Tenancy related crimes include subletting council properties, lying on housing applications and continuing to live in a property after someone has died.

The average waiting time for a three-bedroom council home in Southampton is currently six years, with the government estimating 310 council properties were illegally occupied in the city in 2018.

Councillor Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture, Southampton City Council, said: “Housing fraud is a national problem and costs cities like Southampton millions of pounds each year; this money could be spent supporting and protecting our most vulnerable or building more homes that local people desperately need.

“With waiting lists so high, we all have a responsibility to ensure that those most in need can access the limited council housing available.”

Punishments for council house fraud will return from Dec 1 and Southampton City Council said it has “increased its resources” to investigate these crimes, which hold penalties including a fine, prison sentence and the possibility of being barred from applying for social housing.

Those who wish to avoid prosecution have been advised to put their keys in an envelope (with the property address indicated) and post it through the letterbox of a Local Housing Office before Nov 30.

Addressing those who flout the rules, Councillor Kaur said: “I am encouraging people to please make the most of our key amnesty.

“If you don’t, the extra measures we have put in place to crack down on fraudsters mean you will be found, and you could face legal action.”