Landlords targeted by electronic con

Council house fraud raids lead to five arrests

A series of morning raids on council homes in Southwark have resulted in five arrests for fraud and immigration offences.

Two year sentence for false passport fraudster

A benefit fraudster has been sentenced to two years in jail after using a fake French passport to claim £100,000 in payments.

Housing scams are largest frauds against councils

Social housing tenancy fraud could be costing councils at least £900 million a year while 1,800 homes have been taken back from cheats, a report shows.

Woman jailed for fraudulent housing claim

A woman who used a false passport to fraudulently obtain a social home has been jailed for eight months.

Hiring and firing

Scrapheap challenge

The price of metal has risen sky high making pipes, railings and even boilers an irresistible target to thieves. Chloë Stothart finds out how one housing association is tackling the growing problem of metal theft

Cheated out of their savings

Abusive financial practices targeting the elderly are on the rise, but so are measures to protect vulnerable housing association residents. Alex Turner reports

Fielding opposition

Proposed legislation on registration of village greens would reduce risk to developers. Eollyn Ives, solicitor in the property team at Devonshires Solicitors, explains

Caught out

Social landlords should consider instructing investigators when they suspect fraud, say Samantha Darlington and Neil Lawlor

Open-door policy

Allowing private landlords to validate local housing allowance claims can help councils simplify their procedures and cut their housing waiting lists. Neil Merrick heads to Derbyshire to find out how