Camden Council gains possession of 100 homes in illegal sub-letting crackdown

Camden Council has saved residents nearly £7.5 million over the last year by taking possession of a record number of illegally occupied council homes.

The council has gained possession of 100 properties, the highest number ever in a single financial year.

This means the properties are now free to be re-let to those on the council housing waiting list.

The cases included:

• A three bedroom flat in Kentish Town, which was visited by gas safety contractors who told the council that the flat might be sublet. The council also received an anonymous allegation, and following work with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the tenant handed the keys back to the council the day before the court hearing.
• A tenancy audit of a block in Holborn uncovered a tenant who had moved away, leaving her partner to sublet her flat to a doctor and his pregnant wife for £1,000 a month. The council served notice, and the keys were returned. The couple were unaware the flat was social housing, and they went on to find alternative accommodation which was larger and cheaper.
• A Holborn tenant, who was living in another property in the borough which he had not declared. The council became suspicious when he contacted the repairs team giving a different contact number. The council visited both his properties and made enquiries, and gained possession of the Holborn flat from the courts.
• Subtenants in Camden Town, who contacted the Council to say their landlord had been illegally subletting his flat to them for a number of years. The subtenants attended court, and provided such overwhelming evidence that the judge said that if the tenant or his legal representatives took the stand, he would have to caution them for perjury. The tenant dropped his defence, and the Council was granted possession.
• A tenant in Kentish Town, who had moved to Italy and was illegally subletting her property. The council contacted the tenant, and the courts granted the Council possession without her attending the hearing.

Councillor James King, Executive Member for Housing Services, Camden Council, said:  “I hope these cases send out a clear warning to anyone attempting to cheat the housing system in Camden.

"More than 17,000 people are on the waiting list for a Camden Council property, and the actions of these individuals meant valuable properties were being occupied by people who weren’t entitled to them. I urge people to report anyone they suspect is committing housing fraud, so we can make sure our properties are let to people who need them.”

The council is encouraging residents to report anyone they suspect is committing housing fraud, by calling the Housing Fraud Hotline on 020 7974 5848.

As part of a national campaign, a reward of £500 is being offered to the first 1,000 people nationwide who supply information which leads to a property being recovered.