Enfield Council recovers unlawfully sublet home after fraud investigation

Enfield Council has reclaimed a property after discovering it was being unlawfully sublet. The tenant, whose name has not been released, surrendered the tenancy after an investigation by the council’s counter-fraud team.

Officers identified the fraud during targeted housing visits. They found the person living at the property was not the registered tenant and had been renting it from them. The tenant was no longer using the home as their sole residence.

Tenant surrendered tenancy after interview

The tenant was invited to an interview under caution. When presented with evidence gathered by the council, they chose to surrender the tenancy. The property has now been returned to Enfield’s housing stock.

Lee Chamberlain, Enfield Council’s cabinet member for housing, said the case reflected the council’s commitment to ensuring homes are occupied by those entitled to them. He described housing fraud as a crime against those in need.

Demand for social housing in Enfield is high. The council said many households are waiting for a suitable home. The recovered property will be reallocated to someone on the housing waiting list.

Pilot scheme targets Airbnb subletting

Enfield Council recently took part in a pilot data-matching exercise with the Public Sector Fraud Authority. The scheme cross-referenced council tenant records with Airbnb listings to identify potentially unlawfully sublet properties.

The agreement allows local councils to check social housing records against short-term letting platforms. The council said this helps detect properties being exploited by fraudsters.

Residents who suspect a council property is unoccupied or being unlawfully sublet can report it confidentially. Reports can be made via the council’s fraud page or by emailing fraud.team@enfield.gov.uk.

What happens next

The recovered property will be assessed and prepared for reallocation. Enfield Council has not said how long this process will take. The council continues to investigate other suspected cases of housing fraud.