L&Q recovers 143 homes from fraudsters

As the demand for affordable homes grows, we are continuing to tackle the problem of property misuse.

From April 2023 to March 2024, we successfully recovered 143 homes for people in genuine housing need. We received 601 new referrals, all of which had desktop investigations completed at a minimum.

Nicola Evans, Tenancy Fraud Manager said:

“I’m so proud of my team for building on the success of previous years. Their continued efforts with our partners, colleagues and residents mean we’re recovering homes when waiting lists are at an all-time high.

“It’s sometimes said that tenancy fraud is a victimless crime – it’s anything but. With every property that’s sublet illegally, and every tenancy obtained dishonestly, that’s another family or individual deprived of a home. A stark yet useful reminder of the challenges posed by tenancy fraud and a reason why we should continue to make it a priority.”

Last year, our tenancy fraud team made 202 visits to homes identified as fraud risks, with most of these taking place out of hours. As a result, we’ve received nine voluntary vacation notices from residents, alongside us serving notice to quit and notice of seeking possession orders on 55 tenancies.

Ending tenancy fraud requires coordination between different partners, from local authorities to the police. We have a range of partnerships and data sharing agreements which allow us to consider appropriate legal action which may include prosecution. Last year, we conducted 20 interviews, 8 of which were under caution, and reclaimed more than £40,000 in illegal profits.

Many housing associations rely on their housing officers to investigate fraud over and above their daily duties. Unlike other registered providers, we have an in-house specialist team made up of four qualified investigators, all of whom spend their time looking into potentially fraudulent cases.

Tenancy fraud as a topic is being taken more seriously thanks to conversations being led by experts like our Tenancy Fraud Manager. Last year, Nicola Evans became Chair of the G15 Fraud Group. Nicola is also a member of the Fraud and Whistleblowing Response Group within L&Q and remains an executive committee member with the Tenancy Fraud Forum.

The impact of fraud can have detrimental effects on many areas of the business, and colleague’s awareness of the issue is an essential way for us to tackle the problem. To mark International Fraud Awareness Week, the tenancy fraud team organised a lunch and learn for colleagues from any part of the organisation. They’ve also continued to deliver inhouse training as part of the onboarding training programme for new starters alongside a tailored session for the legal department.

When identifying sublet homes, residents play an active in role in helping us to root out illegal activity. Our newsletter articles have served as regular reminders of how to spot the signs and report suspicious activity.

Our tenancy fraud service has also raised our profile as a responsible landlord and made a splash in the housing press. The team’s successes have been celebrated in Inside Housing, Local Government Lawyer, Social Housing and Housing Digital, with many recognising our efforts as going above and beyond others in the sector.