Social Housing Scams
🚨 AVOID HOUSING SCAMS
Don’t become a victim of tenancy fraud
🏠 What Is Tenancy Fraud?
When someone illegally lets out a social housing home allocated to those in genuine need —often for profit—while living somewhere else. If you rent one of these illegal lets, you could unknowingly become a victim.
⚖️ Illegal subletting is a criminal offence
Under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
😟 How It Can Affect You
You might move in without knowing the home was illegally sublet:
- ❌ Lose your deposit
- ❌ Be kicked out suddenly
- ❌ Face threats or pressure to leave
- ❌ Experience stress, disruption & financial loss
🚩 Warning Signs to Look Out For
- Landlord is evasive or refuses to show ID
- They won’t meet in person or rush you to sign an agreement or move in
- Making payments to personal bank accounts
- Asked to pay into a personal account without proper documentation
- Communication comes from multiple phones/WhatsApp accounts
- Safety certificates list a Housing Association or Local Authority
- Rent seems too cheap to be real
- Letters from councils/contractors about repairs
- Other people already living in the property
- Mail addressed to “Tenant” or mentioning “rent arrears”
- Cards left by council or housing association officers
🚨 Red Flag: No Proof of Ownership
A genuine landlord should be able to show one of the following:
- Title deeds
- A mortgage statement
- Proof they legally own the property
- A proper, legal compliant tenancy agreement (not a random template)
If they can’t, walk away.
⚠️ Never pay a deposit or rent before:-
- Viewing the property in person
- Verifying ownership
- Receiving a signed tenancy agreement
📢 What You Should Do
- Check Who Owns the Property
For England & Wales: Land Registry (£7)
🔗 https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry
- Report Concerns (You Can Stay Anonymous)
Contact your Local Authority → Report tenancy fraud.
- If You’re Being Forced Out But Have a Tenancy Agreement
📞 Call the police, especially if there are threats, harassment, or illegal eviction attempts.