Woman who illegally sublet Peabody flat ordered to pay £90,000 compensation

Wells Chomutare, managing director for south London at Peabody, said: “This kind of fraudulent subletting not only breaks the law, but also takes a social home away from someone who genuinely needs it.

“At a time when demand for affordable housing is incredibly high, this kind of abuse has a direct and damaging impact on those waiting for a safe, secure place to live.

“We’ll continue to investigate suspected fraud and take action, making sure homes are returned to those who need them most.”

John Woolf, executive member for homes and neighbourhoods, said: “This case sends a clear message – that tenancy fraud will not be tolerated. We’ve doubled the size of our tenancy fraud team because we take this crime seriously and we will take robust action against fraudsters.

“Every home recovered is a lifeline for a family in need, and the council will continue to work with partners to protect public resources and ensure fairness in our communities.”

Since 2022, Islington Council has recovered 214 homes through tenancy fraud investigations.

Earlier this year, the authority successfully prosecuted a man who lied to get a council home and then tried to upgrade to a bigger property.