Cabinet member says Lewes District Council ‘will not tolerate’ abuse of social housing system after prosecution of former Peacehaven tenant
Lewes District Council (LDC) has welcomed the prosecution of a former tenant for breaching a term of a tenancy in Peacehaven.
A spokesperson for the Crime Courts and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) confirmed that Shah Mohammed Shaid Ali pleaded guilty to a charge ‘contrary to section 1(1) and (5) of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013’.
The CTSC said the charge was to ‘sub-let / part with possession of a dwelling-house let under a secure tenancy in breach of a term of the tenancy.’
The CTSC said the hearing took place at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 26, and said Mr Ali was fined £422, plus a victim surcharge of £169 and costs of £7,000. In total, Mr Ali had to pay £7,591.
Councillor Mark Slater, Cabinet Member for Housing at LDC, said: “Social housing is a vital public resource that provides secure and affordable homes for people and families who need them most. Every council home that is unlawfully sublet is a home that is unavailable to someone on our housing waiting list.”
He said LDC ‘will not tolerate abuse of the system’, adding: “Our residents expect social housing to be allocated fairly and lawfully, and we will continue to pursue action against anyone who seeks to misuse council homes for purposes other than those for which they are intended.”
He said: “We will take robust action to protect this valuable housing stock for local people in genuine need.”
The council said it investigates reports of tenancy fraud and unlawful subletting and encourages residents to come forward if they are concerned that a council property is being misused. People can report housing fraud anonymously at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/Report-Fraud.