0:00:03 > 0:00:04I'm Michelle Ackerley.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08My parents both grew up on council estates, and as a family,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12we understand the difference social housing can make to people's lives.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17But across the UK, there's a chronic shortage
0:00:17 > 0:00:20of council and housing association homes.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23I know so many friends and so many people
0:00:23 > 0:00:26that just literally don't have anywhere to live.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Adding to the crisis, some tenants are abusing the system,
0:00:30 > 0:00:32holding on to properties they no longer need,
0:00:32 > 0:00:38or even worse, unlawfully subletting them and coining in a small fortune.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Subletting social housing is wrong.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43It's wrong. It's illegal and it's wrong.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46So every day, we'll be with the housing investigators
0:00:46 > 0:00:49as they crack down on those rogue tenants...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51- County court bailiffs. - DRILL WHIRS
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..reclaim properties...
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Anybody in?
0:00:55 > 0:00:58..and give them to families in genuine need.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- All of those keys are yours.- So...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Oh, don't, cos you'll start me off again.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06This is Council House Crackdown.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Our reporter, property expert Luke Doonan,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12also grew up on a council estate.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And for the last six months,
0:01:14 > 0:01:18he's been working alongside dedicated housing investigators
0:01:18 > 0:01:20who will stop at nothing to track down
0:01:20 > 0:01:23every single tenant who's abusing the system.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Today, we join a team of fraud investigators
0:01:27 > 0:01:32as one case of suspected subletting has them racing around East London.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34We can get the police here to arrest you.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37They've lied under caution,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40so we'll just call the police now.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44We find out how one woman's shocking use of someone's identity
0:01:44 > 0:01:47helped to defraud Lambeth Council out of a tenancy
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and claim over £150,000 in benefits...
0:01:52 > 0:01:53She didn't flinch.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57And that did leave me feeling fairly cold about the whole matter.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00..and a council tenant who should've been living in Greenwich,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02but was discovered 700 miles away.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05We received an anonymous tip-off to say that
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Mr Omar was now living in Norway.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Tenancy fraud costs the public purse an estimated £1.8 billion each year.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Housing just one family in temporary accommodation for a year
0:02:18 > 0:02:20is around £18,000.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24The Prevention Of Social Housing Fraud Act
0:02:24 > 0:02:26was introduced in 2013,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29giving social housing providers new powers
0:02:29 > 0:02:31in their fight against tenancy fraud
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and also making it a criminal offence.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Our first case involves a suspected unlawful subletting
0:02:38 > 0:02:42which will take a simultaneous swoop by two sets of investigators
0:02:42 > 0:02:45and the assistance of the police to resolve.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50A married couple are the official tenants
0:02:50 > 0:02:53at this two-bedroom flat in Poplar, East London.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56But following a tip-off, investigations suggest that
0:02:56 > 0:02:58they are actually living in this house,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01less than a mile away, with their in-laws.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04We have an allegation in from a neighbour that the tenants
0:03:04 > 0:03:07were not living in their tenanted property.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Counter fraud investigator Avril Drummond
0:03:09 > 0:03:12from housing association Poplar Harca
0:03:12 > 0:03:16is leading the enquiry into the suspected unlawful sublet.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Avril is planning a dawn visit to the property
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and has enlisted the help of freelance fraud manager Mike Frost
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and his colleague Debbie Brazil.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29We're going to hit two properties at the same time, simultaneous hits.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34This is a copy of the picture of the tenants
0:03:34 > 0:03:36so you know what they look like.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39She needs to go to the housing association flat
0:03:39 > 0:03:42to check who's there and go to the in-laws house
0:03:42 > 0:03:44to see if her official tenants are living there.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47She doesn't want them to be able to warn each other,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49so the visits have to be done at the same time.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54The wife is still linked financially to her mother's property,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56who's also living in the borough,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59hence the reason to do the simultaneous door knock.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01So we'll be able to hit both properties at the same time.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Logistically, Debbie and I,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- we're going to go to the registered tenants' address.- Yeah.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09And, Mike, if you can go to the mother's property, please.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14While Mike sets off to the in-laws' property,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Debbie and Avril take the short walk to the tenants' flat.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Once in position, they will confer to ensure that
0:04:22 > 0:04:26they knock on the doors at exactly the same time.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It eliminates the opportunity for the tenants to phone any subtenants
0:04:29 > 0:04:33if they are in the property or to communicate
0:04:33 > 0:04:36to try and provide themselves with a false sort of scenario.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37- ON PHONE:- Hi.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Hiya, we're at the bottom of the flat. Are you at the address yet?
0:04:41 > 0:04:43OK. Yeah, I am. I'm about to knock now.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45All right, we're going to go up into the lift and wait outside
0:04:45 > 0:04:48the property. I'll give you a call when we're up there.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Hiya. Are you outside?
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Yeah, OK. OK. Bye-bye.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57Bye. Yeah.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Give them a minute or two in case they've just...
0:05:08 > 0:05:10I've just them woken up.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13Open the door, please.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17It looked like... To me, it looked like the tenant,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19but I'll make sure now.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Over at the housing association flat, there's no response.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Poplar Harca. Can you open the door, please?
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Avril can't do much more till she hears from Mike.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Because, at the moment, we don't know what's happened
0:05:38 > 0:05:40at the other property.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41So I don't want to leave a calling card
0:05:41 > 0:05:45and possibly alert any subtenants who are living here.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48So we won't leave a calling card at the moment.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54We'll wait until we've heard from Mike to see what he's uncovered.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Could be we might have to come back later today
0:05:56 > 0:05:57- and leave a calling card.- Yeah.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01- Hi.- Evening, ma'am.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I'm Michael Frost from the fraud investigation team.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06I need to speak to yourself, please.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Mike needs to find out who's living at this property
0:06:08 > 0:06:12and, crucially, whether Avril's tenants are residing there.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15How many people are living in that property?
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It appears that Avril's tenants are indeed residing here.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23They also admit to Mike that they do have people staying in their flat,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25but they're family, they're only there for a visit
0:06:25 > 0:06:28and that they're not paying rent.
0:06:28 > 0:06:29Mike alerts Debbie.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31We may need to go back up.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34He's got the tenants at the property where he is,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- and he said there's definitely two people in there.- Right, OK.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40So he's going to give me a call in a second.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43With this confirmation that someone is definitely staying in the flat,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Avril and Debbie need to get back up there
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and question the occupants as soon as possible
0:06:48 > 0:06:51before the official tenants can call them and brief them.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Well, he's found them living there, in the mother's property,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57which is where we believe they're living in there with the children.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02So we've reason to believe that our property's been sublet.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04It's quite possibly why they haven't answered the door.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07They've been told, instructed not to open the door to anybody.
0:07:07 > 0:07:14I'm going to knock again on the door and request we...are given entry.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Poplar Harca. Can you open the door, please?
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Hello. Avril from Poplar Harca.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32SHE SPEAKS INDISTINGUISHABLY
0:07:32 > 0:07:35OK, we're the landlords. We've come to do an audit of the property.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38We're the landlord. OK?
0:07:38 > 0:07:42We've come to do an audit of the property and verify who you are,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45cos you're not our tenants, are you?
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- You're not our tenants.- No. - We know where our tenants are.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50So I'm coming in to do an audit, please.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Avril's keen to find out if they really are just visiting
0:07:54 > 0:07:57or if they're actually subtenants and paying rent.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Myself and Debbie are going to be coming into the property
0:08:00 > 0:08:03and speaking to you and whoever else is living in the property.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06OK. Thank you.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Thank you.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Over at the in-laws' property,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Mike is trying to get the official tenants
0:08:15 > 0:08:18to sign the flat back to the housing association.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Thank you.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26All right.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30OK. I've just finished inside there.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Obviously, I've come out the property.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35There's no need for us to involve the police at this instance.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37We may still do it at a later stage.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39But what they've done is they've held their hands up
0:08:39 > 0:08:41at the earliest opportunity
0:08:41 > 0:08:43when I've presented the evidence to them.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46They've signed a vacation notice which will require them
0:08:46 > 0:08:48to hand the property back to us within 28 days.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50It's a voluntary notice, termination notice
0:08:50 > 0:08:52that they sign themselves.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54They will then hand the property back to Poplar Harca.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56There's enough people in this property,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59and unfortunately, they've got two people that they claim to know,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01which they don't believe they know
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and I believe are false names living in our tenancy address,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07which is, again, against the law.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Mike's been successful.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11The tenants have signed a vacation notice,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13which is a document saying that they'll hand their flat back
0:09:13 > 0:09:15to the housing association.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19We will issue notices to safeguard ourselves
0:09:19 > 0:09:24and we will take criminal action if we deem it necessary.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25Although the tenants have admitted
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to having people staying in their housing association flat,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Mike still needs to establish if
0:09:30 > 0:09:33they were unlawfully subletting it, which is a crime.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36They've admitted that there was two people inside their property
0:09:36 > 0:09:40that they should be living at. First of all, couldn't tell me their names
0:09:40 > 0:09:42and then have given me names which I believe to be made up.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44So I'm going to go check with Debbie.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The Prevention Of Social Housing Fraud Act of 2013
0:09:48 > 0:09:50creates two criminal offences.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52The first, a lesser charge,
0:09:52 > 0:09:56where the tenant sublets their home without the intention to deceive
0:09:56 > 0:09:59which carries a fine of up to £5,000.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01And a second, more serious offence,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04where the subletting is deliberate and dishonest.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07This is punishable by a two-year jail sentence
0:10:07 > 0:10:11and/or a fine of up to £50,000.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14The court can also order the tenant to pay back any profits.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Avril and Debbie are interviewing
0:10:18 > 0:10:21the occupants of the housing association flat.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25They need to know whether they're paying rent to the official tenants.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I need some identification from you, please.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Passport or driving licence.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33You're telling me you've got no identification here at all.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36This investigation could result in criminal charges
0:10:36 > 0:10:38and end up in court.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- I'm going to have to caution you, OK?- OK.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42You do not have to say anything,
0:10:42 > 0:10:44but it may harm your defence if you do not mention,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48when questioned, something which you later rely on in court.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Anything you do say may be taken down and given in evidence.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55The woman comes up with a driving licence
0:10:55 > 0:11:00which shows her address to be 11 miles away in Romford, Essex.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- A address in Romford. - Lovely. Thank you very much.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The woman claims that the official tenant is her sister
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and that she's just visiting.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Why are you...why are you here?
0:11:13 > 0:11:14Er...
0:11:15 > 0:11:20After a long pause, the woman claims that she's there on holiday.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Oh, it took you a long time to think of that answer, didn't it?
0:11:22 > 0:11:26You're on a holiday from Romford?
0:11:26 > 0:11:28And you're staying here in Poplar?
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Suddenly, Debbie notices something unusual about one of the bedrooms.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Why is this door padlocked?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- Which door?- This door here.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Why has this got a lock on it?
0:11:39 > 0:11:42The woman claims that her sister has the key
0:11:42 > 0:11:44and it's at another property.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48She's refusing to give anything away and seems unsure of her answers.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Avril has to remind her of the severity of the situation.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56You have now been cautioned that anything you say
0:11:56 > 0:11:58can be given in evidence, OK?
0:11:58 > 0:12:02So I'm asking you to tell us the truth and be honest with us, OK?
0:12:02 > 0:12:03All right? OK?
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Otherwise, we can get the police here to arrest you, OK?
0:12:07 > 0:12:10All right? We don't want to do that. OK?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13So I want you to be honest with my colleague about that door.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Who's got the key to that door?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19The woman insists her sister's got the key.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20She receives a call.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Debbie's concerned it's from the official tenant
0:12:22 > 0:12:24and does not want them to confer.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- No, can you leave that, please? - We're talking to you, please.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28And you have been cautioned.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32If you cannot talk to us, we will have you arrested
0:12:32 > 0:12:35so we can ask you questions at the police station.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Avril and Debbie have been in the property for almost 15 minutes
0:12:39 > 0:12:42with the woman when they find out that she isn't there alone.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Hello. Right, OK.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Now, I asked you who was in this property with you
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and you said, "Me."
0:12:51 > 0:12:53You made no mention of your husband at all.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56OK? You understand so far?
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Debbie doesn't believe the woman's story about being on holiday.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04We believe you are living here. OK?
0:13:04 > 0:13:07And your sister or your cousin, whoever she is,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09is residing elsewhere.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12We have officers with her now
0:13:12 > 0:13:15who are getting the same information from her.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18The man says that they've only been in the property for one week.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21No, I don't think you're being very honest with us at all.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24What date did you move into this property?
0:13:24 > 0:13:26What date? Was it October?
0:13:26 > 0:13:29After changing her story a couple of times,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31the woman decides to come clean
0:13:31 > 0:13:34and admits that she and her husband have been subletting the property.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36It's a breakthrough.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Right. OK. All right. So you have been staying...
0:13:39 > 0:13:41That's fine. We would rather you be honest with us.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- It's better for you to be honest. - I'm not lying.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Debbie calls to update Mike.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Now the occupants of the flat have admitted they're paying rent,
0:13:49 > 0:13:51it seems clear that there are good grounds
0:13:51 > 0:13:54to question the official tenants about tenancy fraud.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56We have just had them admit that
0:13:56 > 0:13:58they're residing here and paying her rent.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- How much rent are they paying? - '400.'
0:14:01 > 0:14:02£400 a month.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And is it in cash or is it going direct into bank accounts?
0:14:05 > 0:14:06'It's in cash.'
0:14:06 > 0:14:11The official tenants are also receiving full housing benefit
0:14:11 > 0:14:13which already covers the cost of their rent
0:14:13 > 0:14:15to the housing association.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Debbie tells Mike the names of the occupants,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20but they don't match the ones he was given earlier
0:14:20 > 0:14:21by the official tenants
0:14:21 > 0:14:24when they admitted to having people staying at their flat.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27So he decides to question them again.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29You guys stand off there.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31I'm going to go and speak to these tenants
0:14:31 > 0:14:33and I'm going to then call the police.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35There's somebody else arriving at the address now.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36'All right. Speak to you in a bit.'
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- Cheers. Bye.- 'Bye-bye.'
0:14:38 > 0:14:42They have lied, under caution as well,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45to say that they're not renting the property out.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47But unfortunately, the tenants inside the property
0:14:47 > 0:14:51have admitted renting the property, so it's unlawful.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53So we'll just call the police now
0:14:53 > 0:14:55and get them to be arrested under the Fraud Act.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57So we'll take it from there.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01The conversation I just had with Mike at the other address
0:15:01 > 0:15:03says they're not being cooperative.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05So he's looking to possibly getting them arrested
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- and interviewing them at the police station.- OK. All right.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13I need to speak to yourself and your wife again, please.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Mike confronts the official tenants
0:15:16 > 0:15:18with the revelation from the other flat -
0:15:18 > 0:15:20that the couple there were paying rent.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Mike leaves the house and calls the police.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I'm here to investigate the fraud under
0:15:32 > 0:15:34the Prevention Of Social Housing Fraud Act.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37They need to be arrested, so we can interview them under caution.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40The police are going to be on their way.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42And then they'll take whatever action
0:15:42 > 0:15:44they deem necessary from there.
0:15:45 > 0:15:46But before he can leave,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Mike spots the official tenants leaving the house.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53I'll come and explain to you. The police are on their way,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55so I suggest you might want to speak to the police.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58The tenants inform Mike that they're on their way round to the property.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Mike alerts Avril and Debbie.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Hi there, Deb. So you know, I've called the police.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06They're on their way here.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09And he is believed that he might be making his way
0:16:09 > 0:16:12down to you guys, so any issues or any slight threats whatsoever,
0:16:12 > 0:16:17- just dial 999.- OK. OK.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19All right, we're nearly done here, anyway,
0:16:19 > 0:16:21but I'll let you know when we're out.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Avril and Debbie wrap things up and advise the subtenants
0:16:24 > 0:16:26on what to do if the official tenants arrive
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and blame them for coming clean over the sublet.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34If you have any problems at all, or they come back
0:16:34 > 0:16:38or start threatening you for giving the information, just ring 999.
0:16:38 > 0:16:39- Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Avril and Debbie have enough evidence for now.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Mike updates the police.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49The suspect's now left the address
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and has told us that he is making his way back to the tenancy address,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55so I'll probably require police assistance there as soon as I can.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57I'm on my way there now.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Avril is keen to get the paperwork done so that
0:17:00 > 0:17:04they can get this situation sorted as quickly as possible.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Later, the subtenants disappear from the flat,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10and Avril's concerned.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Are you OK?- 'Yeah, I'm OK.'
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Can you let us in, please?
0:17:15 > 0:17:16We're back here with the police,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19but we're just here to make sure you're OK.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25People putting their social housing back on the market as a letting
0:17:25 > 0:17:28property, it's not really fair on the people that are all waiting.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32People are in desperate need, people with families, young children
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and they just can't get the houses they want, and it's not fair.
0:17:35 > 0:17:41It's a horrible thing to do. Morally, it's just wrong.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43It does make you feel uncomfortable.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I mean, it's basically sort of greed.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48You know, people trying to make profit
0:17:48 > 0:17:50out of the taxpayer, essentially.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Some people will go to incredible lengths to try
0:17:55 > 0:17:59and get a social housing property they're not entitled to.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Our next case uncovers the story of a woman who illegally
0:18:04 > 0:18:09obtained a council property by assuming another person's identity.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13And in addition to the property, over a 17-year period,
0:18:13 > 0:18:19she fraudulently claimed over £150,000 worth of benefits.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22This is Mosunmola Akintomide.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25In 1994, she and her child moved into this three-bedroom
0:18:25 > 0:18:28council house in Brixton, South London.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32By 1999, she had three children and was claiming housing
0:18:32 > 0:18:34and council tax benefits.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36But all was not as it seemed.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Luke went to see Ben Marshall, Senior Housing Fraud Investigator
0:18:42 > 0:18:45at Lambeth Council, to find out about this shocking case.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Ben was first alerted to a possible problem with this tenant,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Miss Akintomide, three years ago.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56So, Ben, tell me how this case first came to you.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59A colleague in the Department for Work and Pensions phoned me
0:18:59 > 0:19:04to say that he was investigating a name, Mosunmola Akintomide.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08He was investigating it because this person was claiming tax
0:19:08 > 0:19:12credits and other Department for Work and Pension benefits.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16When the Department for Work and Pensions
0:19:16 > 0:19:18looked into Miss Akintomide's identity details,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22the only person they could find on file with that name was a baby,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25born in London in 1965.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28But that baby had died when it was only a few months old.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Ben wanted to find out more about his tenant
0:19:32 > 0:19:35and why she seemed to be using the identity of a person
0:19:35 > 0:19:39who was born 50 years ago and had died in infancy.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Well, what I really needed to do was to look in good
0:19:42 > 0:19:46detail at the records that we held in the building, first of all.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49So, going into our computer records, pulling up the files,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51pulling up her tenancy agreement.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56Miss Akintomide, using her fake ID, claimed for housing and benefits,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59stating that she had three children.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02But when Ben did a search on her home address, he found a fourth
0:20:02 > 0:20:07child to be living there, but that child's mother had a different name.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09I made enquiries around that child and I contacted the school,
0:20:09 > 0:20:14for example. And they were unaware of siblings for the child.
0:20:14 > 0:20:20And this child's mother was someone called Catherine Edward.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Further checks showed that Miss Akintomide
0:20:22 > 0:20:24and Catherine Edward had the same mobile number
0:20:24 > 0:20:27and were living at the same address.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Could they be one and the same person?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33It was time to go and visit Mosunmola Akintomide.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36So, in November 2013 I think it was,
0:20:36 > 0:20:40we decided we'd gathered sufficient evidence,
0:20:40 > 0:20:45and we went in with the police and found that there was a lady there.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51She told us at the time, I think, that her name was Catherine Edward.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53She sat very quietly, very sombre,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56whilst we were looking through the property, and it was really
0:20:56 > 0:20:59when we started to find all the documents, for example,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- the NHS letters in both names... - Sure.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05..all kinds of bank accounts in both
0:21:05 > 0:21:09names, which really led me to think, "Well, we are right. Absolutely.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12"She's one person using two identities."
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Ben also found the birth certificates for her children.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Three of them were registered with
0:21:17 > 0:21:19their mother's name of Mosunmola Akintomide,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22the fourth, with the mother's name, Catherine Edward.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Is this person Catherine Edward then?
0:21:25 > 0:21:28And she's been using the dead baby's...
0:21:28 > 0:21:34- As it turns out, she claims to be Catherine Edward.- Right.- So...
0:21:34 > 0:21:38- You can't guarantee she is or...? - I cannot guarantee that she is.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40But she claims to be Catherine Edward,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- a Nigerian national.- Right.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Ben started to piece together the jigsaw.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48It seemed that Catherine Edward was born in Nigeria
0:21:48 > 0:21:51but assumed the identity of Mosunmola Akintomide,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54who was born in the UK, in order to get a council house
0:21:54 > 0:21:56and claim benefits.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01I'm sitting here really shocked that anyone would use
0:22:01 > 0:22:04the identity of a dead person, let alone a dead baby,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08to come and fraudulently get a council flat from you guys.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09And you've just mentioned she was claiming
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- benefits for the whole period of time?- Yeah, yeah.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16And we added it up to £156,000.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- Gee, this is clearly not your average case, is it?- No, no.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23This is one of the most serious
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and fairly complex cases that I've dealt with.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30The woman was arrested and interviewed under caution.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Now, she didn't answer any of our questions.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35She decided not to comment about them.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38And that was frustrating because I had many questions.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42I really wanted to know, what did the children call her?
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Which birthday did she celebrate, for example?
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Because she had two different dates of birth, by a couple of years.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53In September 2014, Lambeth Council took Catherine Edward to court
0:22:53 > 0:22:55on criminal charges.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58It's difficult to necessarily accept anything that she says,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00given the nature of what she's done.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05She was prosecuted in the Crown Court.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07To her credit, she went along
0:23:07 > 0:23:12and she pleaded guilty to
0:23:12 > 0:23:15several offences in relation to the matter.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18She was given a suspended prison sentence of two years
0:23:18 > 0:23:22and ordered to serve 200 hours' community service.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25In fairness, this is one of the biggest,
0:23:25 > 0:23:31if not THE biggest overpayment amount. £156,000 is so much money.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34I mean, that's in part due to the fact that it's 17 years'
0:23:34 > 0:23:35worth of fraud.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39And the fact that it does involve not only using a false ID,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41this was a dead baby.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44When interviewing Edward at the police station,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46they left the question about the baby's identity
0:23:46 > 0:23:48until towards the end.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52We said, "Did you know it was a dead baby's ID...identity?"
0:23:52 > 0:23:55And she didn't flinch, and that did leave me
0:23:55 > 0:23:58feeling fairly cold about the whole matter.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Following successful criminal prosecution against
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Catherine Edward, Lambeth Council are today pursuing
0:24:04 > 0:24:06a civil case against her.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Luke is heading over to Lambeth County Court with Ben.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14So, Ben, in terms of the case, we're just about to go to court today.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Why are we here today?
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Well, the criminal court case finished over a year ago now.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25And she was found guilty of several counts of fraud
0:24:25 > 0:24:30for more than £156,000. That was to do with the benefit
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- that she claimed.- OK.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Today is about the fact that she'd obtained
0:24:34 > 0:24:38the tenancy by deception, effectively.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43So, today, in simple terms, is all about getting the property back to
0:24:43 > 0:24:46you guys, so you can then give it to someone who really needs it.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48That's absolutely it, yeah.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51It's a possession order hearing to establish exactly that.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Later, Luke's on the case to find out how the courts deal with this
0:24:55 > 0:24:58shocking incidence of identity fraud.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Obviously, I think that kind of appropriating someone else's
0:25:05 > 0:25:07identity for your own benefit and your own profit
0:25:07 > 0:25:11is disgraceful and should definitely be stopped.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14You know, it's another way of somebody making
0:25:14 > 0:25:19a gain out of somebody else's misfortune, actually.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20It's the kind of thing that undermines
0:25:20 > 0:25:23the whole social housing system,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26so with it being in crisis already, I think
0:25:26 > 0:25:29there should be moves made to make that very difficult.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Illegal subletting is a particular problem in London due to the
0:25:34 > 0:25:39bigger gap between social housing rent and market rent.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41The average rent for a two-bedroom social housing property
0:25:41 > 0:25:44in London is £114 per week.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49The average cost of renting a London flat or house from a private
0:25:49 > 0:25:53landlord would be around £350 per week.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57A raid in a development on Edgeware Road, Central London,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00found that 61% of housing benefit claimants were
0:26:00 > 0:26:03subletting their properties instead of living in them.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Another raid on a housing block in Westminster revealed
0:26:08 > 0:26:11that 75% were illegally subletting their properties.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Earlier, Avril and Debbie uncovered evidence of suspected
0:26:20 > 0:26:22subletting in this block of flats.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25The couple living here admitted that they were not the official
0:26:25 > 0:26:28tenants who were in fact living at their in-laws' house nearby.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32When the official tenants were interviewed by
0:26:32 > 0:26:35fraud manager Mike Frost, they admitted that people were staying
0:26:35 > 0:26:39in their flat but denied that they'd been unlawfully subletting.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42They need to be arrested so we can interview them under caution.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46But now the official tenants have gone back to their flat.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Mike has called the police as he still needs them to be arrested.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52This will allow him to interview them
0:26:52 > 0:26:55under the Prevention Of Social Housing Fraud Act.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57- This is the tenancy address.- Yeah.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Two people inside the tenancy address that have admitted
0:26:59 > 0:27:00paying rent.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03When Avril hears that the police have arrived,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06she rushes back to join them and check on the subtenants.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- I've got statements from the subtenants so...- All right.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11They were fine, and we did say to them
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- if you get any hassle, just phone 999.- OK.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17THEY KNOCK
0:27:20 > 0:27:23But there's no answer, so Avril calls them.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Hi, it's Avril here.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28- I'm back outside your door. Are you OK?- 'Yes, I'm OK.'
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Can you let us in, please?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32We're back here with the police,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34but we're just here to make sure you're OK.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Can you just open the door, please?
0:27:38 > 0:27:40But the official tenants got there first,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43and the occupants are no longer at the property.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46They tell Avril that one of the tenants turned up at the flat,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49took their keys and made them leave.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Where are you now? Because we've got the police here with us
0:27:51 > 0:27:54just to check you are OK.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Avril arranges to meet the couple at the office
0:27:56 > 0:27:58to check that they're OK
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and to take a statement about what's happened
0:28:00 > 0:28:03while the police head off to look for the official tenants.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Well, we went back to the property because we feared the obvious,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09that he was going to go back
0:28:09 > 0:28:14and intimidate the subtenants that have now given us evidence.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19And, well, he did do that, he's gone and kicked them out,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22taking the keys so they've now been kicked out of their property.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25So the police have now taken his details
0:28:25 > 0:28:29and registration number and they will, if it pops on any of
0:28:29 > 0:28:32the ANPR cameras, they will then effect an arrest,
0:28:32 > 0:28:34a stop and arrest.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Back at the housing association office,
0:28:36 > 0:28:38the female subtenant has arrived.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Do you want to come into the office?
0:28:40 > 0:28:44- We just want to make sure you're OK.- OK.- Yeah?
0:28:45 > 0:28:49A translator helps the officers to interview the women.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52She's just had a phone call from the official tenants,
0:28:52 > 0:28:53and they were not happy.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Did she say when you could get your stuff back?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58She's saying, "Why are you telling them that you gave rent?"
0:28:58 > 0:29:01Right, OK. Because you were being honest, that's why.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03Have you got somewhere to go?
0:29:03 > 0:29:07SHE TRANSLATES
0:29:07 > 0:29:10The subtenants are able to go and stay with a relative,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13but their belongings are still in the property.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15The police need to be contacted to help get them back.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20But before Mike can contact them, he gets a phone call.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23The police have found and arrested the tenants.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25That's not a problem.
0:29:25 > 0:29:26Perfect, thank you.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30All right, the police have just informed me that he's going to -
0:29:30 > 0:29:32obviously they've been arrested - he's going
0:29:32 > 0:29:36to get the keys from them, and then we'll arrange to let the
0:29:36 > 0:29:39subtenants get their stuff back out of the property.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42As the official tenants are taken to Bethnal Green Police Station,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Avril and Mike also head there to interview them under caution.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Meanwhile, Debbie and the police go back to the property with a
0:29:50 > 0:29:54search warrant to look for evidence to try to prove the unlawful sublet.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00Hello, police! Just make sure the premises is fine first, Deb.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05Everyone needs a pen.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13Kev, this room here is apparently set up by the tenant.
0:30:13 > 0:30:19If Poplar HARCA turn up, she can go in... What is it?
0:30:19 > 0:30:20It's a child's bedroom.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23The reason they've done it, when Poplar HARCA
0:30:23 > 0:30:27come round to audit the properties or do notified visits,
0:30:27 > 0:30:30they would simply open the bedroom up.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35There's children's toys here which would show that a child is resident.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39If the child was resident, why would you lock the door?
0:30:39 > 0:30:41Once the search has been carried out,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44the subtenants are allowed to collect their belongings.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Can you make sure? Obviously, I don't want her
0:30:47 > 0:30:48to have to come back here.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50He was being quite aggressive.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56- Sorry?- The tenant of this property, he was being quite aggressive
0:30:56 > 0:30:59and threw them out this morning. I don't want her to have to come back.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Can you make sure she gets everything out, for her safety?
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- That's why I came to support her. - Yeah.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08Over at the police station, Avril and Mike have finished interviewing
0:31:08 > 0:31:10the tenants who have now been released on bail.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14I think it was really good teamwork today.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16Obviously, we have to work very closely in partnership,
0:31:16 > 0:31:20and this case today just showcases really why
0:31:20 > 0:31:21we do the simultaneous door knock,
0:31:21 > 0:31:25so it doesn't give people the chance to alert other people.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28So that's why we hit both properties at the same time.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30It does showcase how, you know, good teamwork
0:31:30 > 0:31:32can really get a good result.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34It has been a massive success for us.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Definitely, we didn't expect the outcome that we got.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43We weren't expecting the drama and the police to be involved.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46We were expecting it to be a normal handover and a peaceful handover.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Finding the subtenants in the property was a
0:31:50 > 0:31:51good result for the team.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Getting signed statements from them is helping to build
0:31:54 > 0:31:55the evidence against the tenants
0:31:55 > 0:31:59and give Avril good grounds to get the property back.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01The sweetest part of it for me is that we are actually going to be
0:32:01 > 0:32:05able to house now a family that's sitting in temporary accommodation.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08That's one of the reasons why I do this work and why I do this job.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Because I do like to see justice being served.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13There are an awful lot of people that seem to think that
0:32:13 > 0:32:16benefit fraud or housing fraud isn't a big deal. It doesn't matter.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18Well, it really does matter.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22It's a social issue that we all have to kind of take on board
0:32:22 > 0:32:24and take a little bit more seriously now.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27We have up to 20,000 people on a waiting list
0:32:27 > 0:32:29in one borough in London.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32That's 20,000 families in, you know,
0:32:32 > 0:32:35dire housing circumstances, waiting to be rehoused.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37So every single unit of accommodation,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40we need to try and keep within our management
0:32:40 > 0:32:43and ensure it's being used, you know, as it should be.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Avril has now served a notice to quit on the official tenants,
0:32:47 > 0:32:49which she is pursuing through the civil courts.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53Criminal cases cannot only be costly to the public purse,
0:32:53 > 0:32:55but can also be a lengthy process,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57and her priority is to get the flat back.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04Recent government reports show that 68,560 households
0:33:04 > 0:33:07are in temporary accommodation.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09While families with children are being forced to
0:33:09 > 0:33:13live in emergency housing, getting the property back is the priority.
0:33:20 > 0:33:25Illegal subletting is obviously not desirable, not permissible.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29It's taking very valuable resources from people who may
0:33:29 > 0:33:33be on the waiting list for a long while and desperately need housing.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37And people are actually abusing the system through illegally subletting.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40It's for people who need it, not for people to make money off it.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43It's illegal and it's wrong, obviously.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46And, you know, so it's not right. But I mean, I think
0:33:46 > 0:33:49the real issue is around rented property by
0:33:49 > 0:33:54private landlords as well, not just around people with social housing.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59In Cornwall, one man fraudulently attempted
0:33:59 > 0:34:01to inherit his mother's council house.
0:34:04 > 0:34:05He had altered documents
0:34:05 > 0:34:09and falsely claimed he was living at the address in Bodmin.
0:34:11 > 0:34:17He was given a two-year conditional discharge and...
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Today, Luke is with Ben Marshall at Lambeth County Court to find out
0:34:27 > 0:34:30if they're going to be awarded possession of a property.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33This was illegally obtained by Catherine Edward,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37using the identity of a person who had passed away as a baby.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41Lambeth Council had already taken her to court, where she was given
0:34:41 > 0:34:43a two-year suspended prison sentence and
0:34:43 > 0:34:46200 hours' community service.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49Although Catherine Edward didn't turn up today, the judge
0:34:49 > 0:34:53ruled that the property should be taken away from the fraudster.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55So, Ben, that was a really long time in court
0:34:55 > 0:34:59- and I guess you're a happy man. - Essentially, yeah.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02It's a great result for me. It's a success.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04My boss is going to be pretty happy.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07The reality of it is that we've now got a date set in stone.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11She's got to come out of the property.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13We are going to get it turned around as quickly as possible.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17And there's, as I've said to you all along, there's 20,000 people.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20There's 1,600 in temporary accommodation.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23One of those families is going to get a really nice house.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26- It's one of the biggest cases you've had.- Yeah.
0:35:26 > 0:35:27And you've resolved it.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29You must be really, really over the moon.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31That must be a big personal achievement.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34I am, I'm chuffed, actually. It's taken a long time.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36It's sort of hard to really appreciate it immediately
0:35:36 > 0:35:38- when you come out of court like this.- Sure.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40But it will sink in tonight.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44I have absolutely worked on this... How many hours? I don't know.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- Many, many hours with other colleagues as well.- Sure.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51And it's good and right that the law, you know,
0:35:51 > 0:35:53- wins out in the end.- Indeed.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57It's been a battle that's taken almost three years.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Four months after the possession hearing,
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Lambeth can finally take the house back.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07Guys, anyone in here? Court officer. Hello.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Catherine Edward and her children had already moved out,
0:36:10 > 0:36:11before the locksmith
0:36:11 > 0:36:14and County Court bailiffs officially gained possession of the house.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19However, a lot of items were left in the property which will need to
0:36:19 > 0:36:24be removed by the council before it can be cleaned and any repairs made.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Now back with Lambeth Council, the house will soon be ready to
0:36:27 > 0:36:31be lived in by a deserving family currently on the waiting list.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34What a great result for Lambeth Council.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37They've just got back a three-bedroom family home
0:36:37 > 0:36:41in a great location that can now be given to a family in genuine need.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44This is another step in their fight against tenancy fraud.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50Obviously, in any kind of system,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53any kind of welfare system or anything that helps people
0:36:53 > 0:36:55that are disadvantaged, there's going to be the odd person
0:36:55 > 0:36:58that will abuse that system.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02Obviously as a taxpayer myself, I feel offended by it, in a way.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05I feel they're taking advantage of my hard work.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08As a taxpayer, if I'm subsidising someone else to be able to make
0:37:08 > 0:37:11their own business, effectively, then it doesn't really feel good.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Enfield Council, in London, were the first local authority to
0:37:16 > 0:37:18successfully prosecute a tenant
0:37:18 > 0:37:21for illegally subletting her property.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26The woman was found to be subletting her flat in Edmonton, North London.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30She had told the sub tenants that she was the owner of the property.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33After pleading guilty to the subletting
0:37:33 > 0:37:36and admitting charges in relation to benefit fraud...
0:37:39 > 0:37:43..and was ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Since that first successful prosecution,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50many more cases of subletting have been taken through the court.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54But there's more than one way the law can be used to stop
0:37:54 > 0:37:57social housing fraud, as our next case shows.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Nigel Brown is a fraud manager at the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07He was part of the team investigating the case of Arri Omar.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Mr Omar should have been living at this one-bedroom flat
0:38:12 > 0:38:15in Abbey Wood, a suburban area of South East London.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21But he was actually building a life for himself here, in Norway.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26Mr Omar obtained the tenancy from us in 2009.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30In late 2014, we received an anonymous tip-off to say that
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Mr Omar was now living in Norway.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35It was instantly thought at that point that the property,
0:38:35 > 0:38:39maybe he'd abandoned it and left it completely empty.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The team contacted the Norwegian government for help.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45They were very helpful at the embassy.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50And they led us to identify that Mr Omar was living in Norway
0:38:50 > 0:38:51with his wife and his children.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57The Norwegian government confirmed that Mr Arri Omar
0:38:57 > 0:39:00had emigrated to Norway in February 2014.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03It was discovered that he was also working for a car care company
0:39:03 > 0:39:07in Norway. But despite living and working over there,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Mr Omar still had links to the property in Greenwich.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Financial checks on the address appeared to show that Mr Omar
0:39:13 > 0:39:16was still living at the property in our borough.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18He had several bank accounts.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22He had various other loans and what have you going on.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26Under the Prevention Of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29the tenant's bank accounts could be requested.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31We obtained his bank accounts,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34and from there, we were able to see regular payments
0:39:34 > 0:39:39coming in from another account of about £500 a month.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Now, that appeared to be rent.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43In fact, when you analyse the accounts more,
0:39:43 > 0:39:45one payment was actually called rent.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Therefore, it gave a good indication that maybe this was sublet.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54We visited the property on a few occasions, but obtained no response.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56The fraud team at the Royal Borough of Greenwich
0:39:56 > 0:39:59wanted to speak to Arri Omar, but without alerting him to the
0:39:59 > 0:40:01fact that they knew he was living abroad.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05Their only option was to try to entice him back to the UK.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08We thought the only way to deal with this matter would be to write
0:40:08 > 0:40:10to Mr Omar at his home address
0:40:10 > 0:40:12and ask him to meet us at the property
0:40:12 > 0:40:15for a routine kind of residential visit.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19A few days after, he rang us from a Norwegian number and arranged
0:40:19 > 0:40:24another date more convenient to him for us to come and visit.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Arri Omar had agreed on a date for the council to go and visit him.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29He was unaware, however, that they
0:40:29 > 0:40:31knew that he was no longer living there.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34He was also unaware that they would be arriving at the property
0:40:34 > 0:40:36with the police.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39This is where Mr Omar had his one-bedroom flat.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42And on the 5th June, we turned up here with the police to meet him.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Mr Omar was surprised we'd attended with the police.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48But nevertheless, a search of his premises took place.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51The police arrested and charged Arri Omar
0:40:51 > 0:40:53with fraud by false representation.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Powers under the Police And Criminal Evidence Act allowed them
0:40:57 > 0:41:00to search the premises for evidence of the subletting
0:41:00 > 0:41:04and for further proof that Mr Omar was indeed living in Norway.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Basically, they listed various things that they found
0:41:07 > 0:41:09in the property, which were a holdall in the wardrobe that
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Mr Omar placed in there, containing Norwegian travel documents,
0:41:13 > 0:41:15his Norwegian currency.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18There was a wallet containing credit cards from Norway
0:41:18 > 0:41:20and his ones from the UK.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23It was obvious that Mr Omar was not living at the property.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27In the flat, we found possessions belonging to other people,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29which included the people that were subletting from Mr Omar.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Also in his possession, we found some flight arrangements,
0:41:32 > 0:41:34his boarding pass which showed that he had flown in the day
0:41:34 > 0:41:37before just to meet us on the day.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40The evidence against Arri Omar was stacking up.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43Nigel's team made contact with the suspected subtenant,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46who confirmed that he had been paying rent to Mr Omar.
0:41:46 > 0:41:47Two weeks after the arrest,
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Mr Omar turned up at the council offices and signed
0:41:50 > 0:41:53a termination notice, giving the flat back to the
0:41:53 > 0:41:55Royal Borough of Greenwich.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Arri Omar appeared at Bexley Magistrates Court
0:41:58 > 0:42:02in October 2015, on one charge of benefit fraud under the
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Social Security Administration Act.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 weeks' imprisonment,
0:42:09 > 0:42:10suspended for 12 months.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15He was also ordered to pay back housing benefits that he'd received.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Mr Omar's now got himself a criminal record,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20he's got to pay us our money back for the housing benefit fraud,
0:42:20 > 0:42:21but more important than that,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23we've got a lovely property back
0:42:23 > 0:42:26for someone who actually deserves to have it.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30For every tenancy cheat that's uncovered and every property
0:42:30 > 0:42:33that's reclaimed, that's one less family on the waiting list.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36With ever-improving investigation techniques
0:42:36 > 0:42:39and the sheer determination of housing officers,
0:42:39 > 0:42:43the walls are closing in on those abusing our social housing stock.