Issue - meetings
Social Housing Fraud Update
Meeting: 23/09/2015 - Audit Committee (Item 4)
4 Social Housing Fraud Update PDF 90 KB
Minutes:
The Corporate Anti-fraud Manager introduced the report which provided an update on work concerned with the recovery of unlawfully let public sector dwellings carried out by the Social Housing Fraud Team and performance since the termination of Government funding for this work.
The Committee was informed:
- That Mr Bryce, formerly of the Audit Commission would attend Committee in December 2015 to inform the Committee about protecting the Public Purse.
- That social housing fraud was a national problem.
- Of the team’s performance in 2014/15 and the steps taken to enhance resources through the employment of three permanent positions and two temporary positions in conjunction with Tower Hamlets Homes.
- That there was an increased tendency towards action through the Courts before the property became void. This trend created extra work for the Council's legal team and delayed the recovery of units as subtenants often had to be removed before the property could be voided and so recorded as recovered.
- Of the proposal of a “key amnesty” scheme to improve the rate of release of sublet properties.
In response to Members’ questions the following information was provided:
Concerning the Council's recovery performance under the key amnesty scheme in relation to other authorities, the Committee was informed that most other authorities had had between seven and 12 properties returned under the scheme. The initiative was also being copied by other registered social landlords in other boroughs.
There was a rise in resistance to subletting surrenders as this area of activity was lucrative for inappropriate income generation.
Tower Hamlets wished to develop and enter into a voluntary code of practice with letting agents to promote better vetting of prospective tenants. The Corporate Director of Resources suggested that the Corporate Anti-fraud Manager collaborate with the Cabinet Member for Housing, who was reviewing the Council's housing policies and strategy, to explore how the Council could better engage with social registered landlords.
RESOLVED
- That the social housing fraud update be noted.
- That the Corporate Anti-fraud Manager collaborate with the Cabinet Member for Housing, who was reviewing the Council's housing policies and strategy, to explore how the Council could better engage with social registered landlords and promote the voluntary code of practice.