Council house tenants who cheat the system could swap their home for prison during a new crackdown.

Dudley Council is going after tenants and would-be tenants who abuse the council house system.

The local authority has procedures and processes to prevent people from committing housing fraud, and is now cracking down on those who are determined to cheat.

In April 2013 the local authority set up a new team focused on weeding out people who try or have secured a council home under false pretences, illegally sublet their homes, swapped homes without consent, or stayed in a property after the legal tenant has left or died.  This has resulted in 69 cases of tenancy fraud being detected.

Councillor Steve Waltho, cabinet member for housing, said:

“Anyone we find guilty of committing housing fraud is at risk of losing their home, being fined, or even going to prison.  They are cheating people in need out of a home and breaking the law, and we do not tolerate it.”

Anyone aware of someone who may have cheated to get their council house in the Dudley borough should call the council’s fraud hotline message service, anonymously if they wish, on 01384 814242.