This includes properties in Mortlock Avenue and Lichfield Road which were abandoned, and properties in Campkin Road and Colville Road which were illegally sub-let.
Properties in Chapman Court, Ekin Road and Aragon Close were also taken back by the council when it was proved that the tenants had left these homes to move abroad without them notifying the council.
An investigation into one property in Hawthorn Way showed that the tenant had even converted their council property so they could rent out multiple rooms for profit. The property was taken back and the tenant had to pay for it to be converted back to its original state, as well as considerable costs. This is now providing a home to a family in genuine need of social housing.
Following the death of a legitimate tenant in Dudley Road, evidence showed that his wife moved abroad and another family member appeared to have forged paperwork so they could pretend to be living there.
Following an investigation the family decided to return the keys to the property, which is now providing a home for someone who had applied to the council for housing.
The council’s fraud team also assists housing associations with investigations. Joint work with CHS (Cambridge Housing Societ) proved that a tenant in Ribston Way had breached the terms of their tenancy, so the property was recovered and made available to a new tenant.
In a separate action in collaboration with Hundred Houses Society, the Fraud Team was able to prove that an individual had illegally obtained two social housing properties. This meant that the council was able to take back a property in Eastfields which was then made available for genuine tenants.
Cllr Kevin Price, Executive Councillor for Housing, said: “It is both unfair and illegal for council tenants to abandon or sub-let their property without permission. One way we help make more properties available is by investigating when it is suspected that a home is being abused in this way. When proved, the property is made available for someone else who has a genuine need of housing.”
“As council housing is in such short supply here in Cambridge it’s fantastic that we have been able to hand these properties over to families in need of a home.”
If residents suspect that a property has been abandoned or sub-let they can help the council support people waiting to be housed, by calling the Fraud Team on 01223 457731 or reporting it online at www.cambridge.gov.uk/tenancy-fraud
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More council homes made available thanks to fraud investigators
19 July 2016
Investigations by fraud officers at Cambridge City Council have meant that 11 families have been able to move in to council properties that were found to have been illegally sub-let or abandoned.