A former resident has been ordered to repay £79,730.15 following a thorough investigation into the unlawful subletting of their PA Housing property in Twickenham, which had been ongoing for nearly 4 years.
The inquiry revealed that the individual had been listing the social housing flat on Airbnb, charging £595 for long weekend stays. During this period, the former resident was living in Dubai and also owned a mortgaged property in the UK, valued at approximately £450,000.
Concerns were first raised in late 2023 after an anonymous tip-off reported frequent comings and goings at the Twickenham address.
While conducting routine checks, our Tenancy Fraud Officer noticed that the flat's door entry system had been altered – prompting a referral to Southwest London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP).
Following a joint investigation, it became clear that our former resident had used false identification to secure additional housing with another housing association and a tenancy with the local council.
In collaboration with SWLFP, our Tenancy Fraud Officer visited the Twickenham property early one morning and confirmed the presence of a subtenant. The individual, who had travelled from South Africa to attend a rugby match, had booked the accommodation via Airbnb. He provided both a statement and booking confirmation, which were used as key evidence in our legal proceedings.
Legal action was started in July 2024 at Brentford County Court. The hearing took place in early 2025, resulting in a favourable judgment. The former resident was ordered to immediately relinquish the property and repay £79,730.15 under an Unlawful Profit Order. This outcome ensures the flat can now be allocated to someone in genuine housing need.
The result
We're currently in the process of applying for a charging order on the mortgaged property. Tenancy fraud is a serious offence, and we remain committed to taking decisive action against it. If you suspect tenancy fraud, please reach out to the team for support or send us an email at [email protected]
Report your concerns now
If you suspect someone of committing tenancy fraud, please get in touch. We take all reports of tenancy fraud seriously. Tenancy fraud is a serious breach of tenancy and is a criminal offence. The penalties for a criminal conviction for this include up to two years in prison, a fine of up to £50,000, and an unlawful profit order.
