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Members of the Housing & Health Committee will be asked to approve a new policy intended to improve consistency in the way Perth & Kinross Council tackles tenancy fraud when they meet on Wednesday 29 January.
There are a number of forms which tenancy fraud can take, including not occupying the property assigned so that it lies empty for extensive periods of time, or unlawfully subletting the property to someone else who isn’t entitled to live there. Tenancy fraud can also include attempts to obtain rented accommodation by using false statements and/or documents that misrepresent the identity or circumstances of the applicant.
The new Policy for Tackling Tenancy Fraud which will be considered by Committee members sets out the actions, duties and responsibilities of Council staff and management to prevent and detect tenancy fraud, and recover properties that are being occupied by unauthorised households, or are not being used as the tenant’s sole or principal home. It applies to all residential properties owned or managed by the Council.
Councillor Dave Doogan, Convener of the Committee, said: “Council housing in Perth and Kinross is in high demand and it is vitally important that we know that our properties are being let to the people in most urgent need of them.
Any attempt to bypass the Council’s allocations policy by providing false information, or failing to occupy the house which has been allocated, will be dealt with robustly.
While housing staff have always taken steps to prevent tenancy fraud and to take action where it is discovered, this policy will now formalise that existing good practice.
This paper coming before Committee represents an very good opportunity to deliver an important message that tenancy fraud will not be tolerated in Perth and Kinross. I would encourage anyone who is aware of any tenancy abuse to contact their local area housing team and alert them to the circumstances.”
Courtesy of PKC