Benefit Fraud

[poweranger77]

Hello I need advice.

I have a friend who I know is committing benefit fraud in that he doesn’t declare a lot of his income and has privately rented out his council flat (@ a profit I might add)

He has a 7 month baby and now rents privately with his partner (who doesn’t work) the person renting the council flat is also someone I know.

In one way I want to report him because I feel they are stealing from the tax payer & after watching last night’s channel 4 show I see that there are lot of people that actually need social housing.

Is it immoral to report him?

[poweranger77]

ok you've answered my question about subletting a council flat, thought not otherwise you could make a fortune in london!

[EDDIE51]

Friedgreentomato
not doing anything illegal by renting out his council flat ?
Of course it is illegal he was given the flat as social housing , now he is renting it out at a profit and using the income to rent privately. The reason he had problems getting a private rental is because he was not declaring his true income and it looked on paper as if he could not afford it.
He is almost certainly getting housing benefit for the council flat as well so the rent is pure profit.
As said 'It is immoral NOT to report him'.
However the person who is renting the council flat from him is an illegal tenant and will be evicted once the council know about it.
The person is making £100s a week from the council flat alone report him.

[poweranger77]

@ sherrardk, you're right he is not a friend (just quicker to write that) he is someone I know through very good friends...and we've all discussed this 'situation'

[friedgreentomato]

It is not illegal to rent out a council property ( I have said this before) it is frowned upon.

TBH you actually don't have any evidence or proof, if you phoned up the fraud helpline where I work we would not be able to take any action on this info!

[friedgreentomato]

Eddie it is not illegal, unfair, wrong cheeky yes but not illegal!

[ummmm]

A google search says it is illegal to sub let a council property.

They are prosecuting people for it. How can they prosecute if it wasn't illegal?

[marval]

This says it is illegal too.

http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/slough/articles/2013/06/18/90450-former-council-housing-officer-jailed-after-being-caught-illegally-subletting-council-property/

[EDDIE51]

It IS illegal to sublet a council property , it is not yours to let it belongs to the council or housing association. The entire reason to have social housing would not exist if tenants could rent them out. It actually happened just across the road from me, a council tenant sub let his council house and moved to Ireland , when the council found out (which only took a couple of weeks) the people in it were evicted and the original tenant has a warrant for his arrest out on him.

[EDDIE51]

Friedgreen it is illegal because it is fraud , letting a place that you do not own.
A person who does this can expect a prison sentence when caught.

[pusskin]

I agree with all your posts that it is illegal to rent out a council place.

[Kathyan]

''TBH you actually don't have any evidence or proof, if you phoned up the fraud helpline where I work we would not be able to take any action on this info!''

I didn't have any 'evidence' when I reported someone. I gave them the information I had and they did an investigation and got the evidence they needed to prosecute!

[FredPuli43]

If you report it (and I would, as plainly worthy of investigation) why would this person think that the information came from you? The investigators won't say; indeed they will not divulge the reason for their suspicion emanating from anyone. After all, they might discover this from cross checking of various records.

[EDDIE51]

If you report this it will be investigated but the fraud squad will never say who or how they got the information in the first place. You do not even need to give your name.

[EDDIE51]

You can report them online , you do not need to give your name
https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/

[themas]

If you have any sort of social conscience you will report this. There are two elements.

Letting out of the council flat needs reporting to the council housing dept. who are the landlords. It is quite normal for their tenancies to include a prohibition on sub-letting (which is what this is). Council are always very short of housing - there are enormous numbers of people on waiting lists & it is entirely wrong that this person can make money out of it.

The benefit issue needs reporting to the relevant helpline (google it). I cannot understand fgtomato's comment that the fraud line she works for couldn't take any action on it. From what you have said it is as plain as a pikestaff that it is something which needs to be investigated. That is the job of the fraud investigators & they would do it if you report it. You don't have to provide proof - you can't be expected to - but what you have said is a very firm basis for suspicion which must be properly investigated.

[EDDIE51]

themas I have already posted the link to the online benefit fraud report form.

[poweranger77]

Thanks for all your responses.

I too don't believe its my job to obtain 'evidence' I don't see how it's possible for anyone to do this unless you shop yourself in!

I'll let you know what I decide.

[EDDIE51]

All you have to do is report what you know , your name WILL NOT be disclosed.
If you don't want to use the online form you can phone 'Crimestoppers' which is totally confidential , this is a crime and a serious one.

[cupotee]

Can I just add here if this person is on Disability Benefit they may well have obtained the car via the Mobility scheme at no cost to themselves.

I would report them for subletting the council property as its not theirs to let out.