A WOMAN who admitted not living at her Solihull Community Housing property was forced to hand back the keys following a fraud investigation.
Checks were made when the woman submitted a right-to-buy application on her home in Kingshurst.
Enquiries subsequently revealed that her main home was in fact a property in Tamworth.
During an interview the former tenant voluntarily gave notice on her flat.
Her son had been living in the property for a number of years which is strictly against the terms of his mother’s tenancy agreement.
Fiona Hughes, Chief of operations at SCH, said: “Tenancy fraud of any kind is something we treat very seriously.
“Every case of this type is preventing a family with genuine needs from living in one of our homes.
“Anyone proven to be committing tenancy fraud is likely to lose their home.”
Councillor Ken Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration, said: “It is unfair for families on our housing register to be cheated out of a home by people abusing the system.
“I’m encouraging residents to let us know if they suspect anyone not being honest about their tenancy arrangements.”
Anyone wishing to report somebody suspected of subletting their home or not living in the property themselves can call the confidential Tenancy Fraud Hotline on 0800 028 8535.
There is a £250 cash reward for anyone supplying information that may lead to a property being recovered.
