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Press Release

15 November 2021

Council targets fraud this Fraud Awareness Week

In the UK last year £8.4billion of taxpayer money was wasted due to fraudulent activity. Every year, Fareham Borough Council investigates around 1000 cases of fraud and housing fraud is a key area of concern. That is why, as part of its Fraud Awareness Week activity, Fareham Borough Council will be targeting housing fraud in a different way.

From today, until the 30 November, Fareham Borough Council will be running a ‘Key Amnesty’ - allowing people who are no longer living in, or in need of, their council accommodation to fill in a form and hand in their keys to the Civic Offices, without the fear of prosecution.

Housing fraud is where an individual is allocated social housing, but no longer lives at the residence, allows a friend or family member to live at the property or even sublets it. If an individual applies for a discount to purchase their council home using misinformation, this is also classed a housing fraud.

Fareham Borough Council has a limited number of social housing properties which are available to let and, with a growing list of families, individuals, and pensioners in legitimate need of accommodation this is simply not acceptable.

Executive Member for Housing at Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Fred Birkett, said: “Some residents may not realise that if they are not living in their council accommodation, allowing others to stay there, or subletting the property, that this is actually committing housing fraud and is a criminal offence. This Key Amnesty is a way for these individuals to hand in their keys along with a simple form, without having to worry about repercussions or prosecution.

“Each property recovered will not only save the Council thousands of pounds but allow people in genuine need to find a home. After the 30 November, however, we will continue to investigate cases of housing fraud and will pursue these to the fullest possible extent.”

Residents are also encouraged to help the Council fight fraud by reporting anything they think may be suspicious. Residents can report fraud in 3 ways: