SOUTHEND Council fraud investigators have taken possesion of a home occupied under false pretences.

The council joined forces with Estuary Housing Association to successfully complete a fraud investigation, ensuring that a social housing property returns to someone in genuine need.

This follows a robust joint investigation into a housing application to the council. The paperwork submitted by the tenant said that they had been served an eviction notice and were therefore classed as homeless, but this was not the case.

The tenant was living in a three bedroom house in Westcliff and has now handed in the keys to avoid prosecution.

David Norman, councillor responsible for housing said: “When a person gets a housing association or council property by giving false information in their application, they are committing housing fraud and this will not be tolerated. Housing fraud means someone who may be in greater need misses out on the opportunity of a home.

“This is a rare case, but it is an issue that we take seriously and not tolerate. I hope this sends out a message that people who commit social housing fraud will not get away with it. If there are others out there doing the same I would urge them to come forward or potentially face prosecution.”

Kevin Turnpenney, assistant director of housing and communities at Estuary Housing said: “Once this tenant was faced with the facts, along with the opportunity to move into emergency, temporary accommodation they made the decision to hand the keys in and avoid prosecution.

“Unfortunately because of this action, the tenant will now have to find their own accommodation and will not be helped with any future social housing.

“Estuary Housing work with the council and South Essex Homes to ensure that fraudulent applications and ineligible tenancies are dealt with in a swift way and I am delighted that this family sized property will now go to someone in genuine need.”