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Report housingfraud

HELP US TO COMBAT HOUSING/MUTUAL EXCHANGE APPLICATION FRAUD:

You can help stop Housing Application Fraud.

Are you or someone you know on the waiting list and in need of social housing?  If so, this affects you.  It also affects every Southampton resident, when SCC must pay for temporary accommodation or provide a tenancy to an applicant who has submitted a fraudulent application.

A fraudulent Application is declaring information on your housing or mutual exchange application, which is incorrect, such as:

  • Making a false declaration of household members to increase bedroom need.
  • Providing incorrect accommodation history.
  • Failing to declare information, such as current or previous tenancies, ownership of other properties etc.
  • Providing incorrect information to increase banding such as medical or homelessness declarations.

  There is a high demand for social housing, and this demand outweighs the properties that are available.

  • Making a false application to obtain a tenancy is fraud and we will rigorously investigate all referrals received.
  • Each false application is preventing a family or person in real need from obtaining safe and secure housing.
  • Making a false application for housing increases the time those who are genuinely in need wait for an offer of housing.

What is SCC doing to combat fraud?

  • Housing and Homelessness Teams work with Tenancy Fraud Team to investigate possible fraud.
  • From September 2020 to date, we have cancelled 23 applications of concern and 10 mutual exchanges. These have been mainly from internal referrals.  Everyone can do their bit by submitting concerns over possible fraudulent applications.  Each fraudulent application cancelled, means that another property can be allocated to a person or family in genuine need. 
  • You can make a referral online Tenancy fraud. All we ask is that you give as much information as you can to allow us to investigate.  We encourage you  to  provide contact details as this will allow our team to confirm information with you. Your details will be kept private while we investigate.
  • Since Tenancy Fraud team was established in September 2020, we have helped to cancel 23 fraudulent housing applications. With your help, we can do even more and ensure that our homes go to those in real housing need.