Tenancy Fraud Action Week 2025
17–23 November is Tenancy Fraud Action Week, and we’re proud to support this national campaign to raise awareness about tenancy fraud and its impact on our communities. Tenancy fraud takes homes away from people who really need them, and we’re committed to tackling it.
What is tenancy fraud?
Tenancy fraud happens when someone acts dishonestly to gain or keep a home they’re not entitled to. Here are the most common examples:
- Unlawful subletting – renting out all or part of your home to someone else without our permission.
- Key selling – selling or giving your keys to another person for money, goods or any other benefit.
- Non-occupation – claiming a property is your main home but rarely or never living there.
- Fraudulent successions – keeping a tenancy after the tenant has died without our consent or knowledge.
- Unauthorised exchange or assignment – swapping or assigning a property without our permission.
- Fraudulent application for a housing transfer – giving false or misleading information, or using fake documents, to move to another property.
- Fraudulent Right to Buy or Right to Acquire – applying for a discount to buy your home using false information, or making unlawful arrangements with a third party to buy the property on your behalf for a cash or other incentive.
These actions are against the law and can lead to losing your home and even prosecution.
How we prevent tenancy fraud
We take tenancy fraud seriously and use several methods to identify and prevent it, including:
- Regular estate walkabouts – our Housing Officers meet and engage with residents.
- Targeted tenancy audits – especially where there’s been no contact for 12 months.
- Follow-up visits – at 6 weeks, 3 months and 9 months after a tenancy starts.
- Identity checks – during mutual exchanges and succession requests.
- Feedback from contractors – operatives and tradespeople report anything suspicious.
- Easy ways to report – including anonymous reporting and reminders on rent statements.
How you can help
If you suspect tenancy fraud, please let us know. Your report will be treated in confidence, and you can report anonymously if you prefer.
Find out more here: https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/about/reporting-fraud/
