Benefit Fraud:
Please note that it is the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions to investigate benefit fraud.
If someone claims Housing Benefit and/or Social Security benefits where they have no right to entitlement they are committing benefit fraud. Typical examples of benefit fraud are:
- people who work, but don't declare this when they submit their claim
- people who claim as a single person, but actually live with a partner
- people who claim from an address, but do not live there
- people who do not tell the Council the full amount of income, savings or capital they have when they claim benefit
- people who for any reason do not have any right to claim Housing Benefit
How to report Benefit Fraud
Telephone: Call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 between Monday - Friday. Your call is free and confidential. You do not have to give your name or address. If you have speech or hearing problems you can use a text phone service on 0800 328 0512 or Welsh speakers can call on 0800 678 3722.
Online: www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
By post: NBFH, PO Box 224, Preston PR1 1GP
Tenancy fraud:
The following are examples of tenancy fraud:
- Unlawful subletting-An unauthorised occupant resides in the property. This can include subletting the whole or part of the property to a third party without the consent of the landlord (Housing Solutions). It is made clear in the starter and assured tenancy agreements that unauthorised subletting is not permitted
- Key selling-Where a resident ‘sells‘ the keys onto another person in return for monies or goods received
- Non occupation-Where a tenant claims that their house is their only or principle home, but instead uses it as a secondary property and resides there infrequently or not at all
- Fraudulent successions-Where a tenancy has been retained/maintained following the death of the resident without the consent or the knowledge of the landlord (Housing Solutions).This person may or may not have rights to succession
- Unauthorised exchange or assignment/mutual exchange-Where a resident or residents exchange or assign properties without the consent or knowledge of the landlord (Housing Solutions)
- Fraudulent application for a housing transfer-Where a tenant presents false or misleading information in order to obtain a transfer. This includes misrepresentation of circumstances and/or providing false identification documents.
If you believe someone is committing tenancy fraud please fill out the form below with as much information as possible.
In order to enable us to fully investigate this report, it may be necessary for us to contact you to obtain more details. We would never share your details with the resident we are investigating. If you wish to remain anonymous you may leave these fields blank but this may impact on our ability to fully investigate and/or take the appropriate action against the fraudulent resident.
Please find links to Slough, Wokingham and Reading tenancy fraud reporting tools
http://www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/report-fraud.aspx
https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/benefits/benefits-and-fraud-prevention/report-benefit-fraud/
