Led by the council’s Corporate Fraud Team, working in close partnership with colleagues in other council services, investigations found the former tenants were not occupying their Council tenancy as their principal home – a clear breach of tenancy conditions.
According to the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN), tenancy fraud costs the UK around £1 billion a year. Tenancy fraud means that homes are not available for people who need them most and undermines fairness in the system.
Examples of tenancy fraud include:
- Obtaining housing by deception: when a person applying for a property deliberately provides false information.
- Abandonment: when a tenant stops living at a property and fails to tell the council.
- Unlawful subletting: when a tenant rents out all, or part of, their property without permission from the council.
- Non-occupation: when a tenant does not live at the property as their main or principal home.
- Unlawful succession: when a person not entitled to the property takes over the tenancy.
The NAFN figures on tenancy fraud come as the council launches a new campaign to raise awareness of fraud involving the council, with the public encouraged to raise any concerns with the council’s specialist Corporate Fraud Team. Social media posts, posters and other promotional activity will highlight the different types of fraud, its impacts and how to report suspicions.
Ensuring resources go to the people and communities who genuinely need them
Convener of the Audit Committee, Cllr Susan McGill, said: “Fraud against the council is fraud against the public because every pound lost is taken away from vital services, and in the case of tenancy fraud it denies families a safe, warm home.
“Tackling fraud is about protecting public money, promoting fairness and ensuring resources go to the people and communities who genuinely need them. This is why this is such an important campaign.
“By raising awareness of tenancy fraud and other types of fraud involving council services, more people will know when to suspect it and how to report it.”
Not a victimless crime
Convener of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, Cllr David Wilson, said: “Every council house that is misused is a home taken away from someone who truly needs it.
“Tenancy fraud is not a victimless crime – it directly impacts people on our waiting list, such as families facing overcrowding and vulnerable residents in urgent need of a safe, secure place to live. So if you have concerns, please report it to our specialist team.”
Stirling Council has a duty to safeguard public money and expects the highest standards of conduct and integrity from all who have dealings with it, including employees, elected members, contractors, and the public.
Other examples of fraud involving the council include:
- Council Tax Discount Fraud: where more than one adult is resident in a residential property and a 25% Council Tax Single Occupancy Discount is being claimed. This type of fraud impacts on the money available to the Council to fund services.
- Other Council Tax frauds such as falsely claiming exemptions, for example claiming a property is empty and unfurnished or claiming a student exemption where liable adults are resident.
- Misuse of Council Resources – for example, the use of council equipment or materials for private gain.
- School Placement Fraud – falsely claiming that you or your child live at an address within a particular school catchment area.
- Social Care Fraud: failing to declare capital and or assets to avoid paying care costs.
- Non-Domestic Rates Fraud: when businesses attempt to gain relief or exemptions from business rates that they are not entitled to.
- Insurance: false claims made against the Council.
If you suspect that any person or organisation has committed a fraud that involves Stirling Council, please report it to us via a form on the our website: www.stirling.gov.uk/contact-us/report-fraud-to-stirling-council/
You can also report it by calling 01786 233910, or by emailing reportfraud@stirling.gov.uk.
For more info, visit: www.stirling.gov.uk/contact-us/report-fraud-to-stirling-council