Lambeth Council recently showcased some of the efforts they are making to tackle housing fraud in the Borough. They are taking action to help prevent people obtaining properties fraudulently, ensuring homes go to the people who need them. We want to have a look at this today, then if you need help with guaranteed rent in Lambeth, you can speak to us.

The issue

Councils across the UK have an obligation to help local people find housing. Sadly, some people take advantage of the schemes they offer to do this. That can unfortunately result in properties going to people who don’t qualify for them.

One thing Lambeth Council has done is taken a step to block fraudulent purchases under the Right to Buy Scheme. It exists to give council tenants the chance to buy their home with a discount. The goal is to boost home ownership. However, people need to pass eligibility checks before they can buy. For example, they will only be eligible if the property will be their only home or main residence.

The Council reported that they had blocked 17 Right to Buy sales in the last few years. The applications in these cases were fraudulent. As a result, the properties will remain with the council. The local authority believes this will save taxpayers in excess of £1.85million.

In addition, the Council has been cracking down on fraudulent tenancies. These are people who got council housing when they were not actually eligible for it. Since 2020 the Counter Fraud team has been able to recover 286 tenancies. These properties then went to local people who need them. Five people were prosecuted for tenancy fraud in the period.

What next?

Lambeth Council will continue to tackle housing fraud. They currently have over 4,000 households living in temporary accommodation. As a result, their teams are working hard to make sure fraudsters aren’t taking homes that should go to them.

The local authority is also asking locals to assist them. Residents can report any concerns about tenancies to the Counter Fraud team. Or, they can report directly to the council.

Do you need guaranteed rent in Lambeth?

There are plenty of fantastic locations in London if you want to invest in property. Lambeth has a number of them, including trendy areas like Clapham and Brixton. You should definitely have a look, whether you want a family friendly location or somewhere with lots of lifestyle amenities.

If you do commit, you can get some exceptional services from us. One that stands out is guaranteed rent in Lambeth. It is the best way to avoid serious issues like void periods and tenants who don’t pay their rent. It protects your cash flow and means you continue to get a healthy return on each investment property.

So, if you want to learn more, speak to us.