24 February 2010
Housing Fraud
Coventry City Council and Whitefriars Housing Group have teamed up to tackle housing fraud.
Whitefriars, as the largest housing association in the City, plays a key role in providing housing to people in housing need. A few people abuse this by renting out the property provided to them. These customers in renting out their property often charge higher rents and claim benefits they are not entitled to. This fraud should not be tolerated.
Whitefriars and Coventry City Council are committed to working together to identify those illegally renting out their property.
The Coventry City Council and Whitefriars have agreed a set of actions aimed at targeting this problem.
The action plan includes:
- Posters and leaflets available in both City Council and Whitefriars offices highlighting the problem and requesting information from customers about subletting of properties.
- Whitefriars have joined the National Fraud Initiative. This is a scheme set up by the Audit Commission whereby social housing providers enter details of their customers and this allows landlords to identify those with more than one tenancy.
- A programme of random checks to ensure tenants of Whitefriars are living at the property.
- Whitefriars are encouraging customers to let them know of any housing fraud. An article appears in December’s View magazine distributed to their 16,000 customers highlighting the problem and appealing for information.
- Research into preventative measures to ensure housing fraud does not occur. Initial ideas are photos of new tenants; ensuring adequate checks prior to letting.
- Housing Benefit Fraud Officers assisting Whitefriars identify and investigate fraud.
Respective senior managers stated ”Our organisations and our staff are committed to work together to prevent and identify housing fraud.”
Residents can report those illegally renting out their property by ringing the Fraud Hotline on 
024 76832549.
You can also email on benefitfraud@coventry.gov.uk or report it at any Whitefriars housing office.
See below for more information on Housing Fraud: