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Kettering Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a tenant who falsely claimed to be homeless while owning two properties.
At Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 23 August 2016, Carol Rae of Hazeland House in Desborough was fined £1,500 and was ordered to pay the council’s costs of £350 and a victim surcharge of £120.
The court heard that Rae, 60, was provided with temporary accommodation and given a secure council tenancy in December 2014, after making an application as a homeless person in May 2014.
However, she failed to disclose that she owned two additional properties for which she also received rental income.
The case was heard and proven in her absence when Rae failed to attend court – she was found guilty of failing to tell the council that she already owned two properties, as required by the Housing Act 1996.
The council is now seeking to evict Rae from the council property in which she lives.
After the hearing, Kettering Borough Council Head of Housing, John Conway, said:
“Where housing applicants lie or fail to disclose their true circumstances to us, we will not hesitate to use the powers available to us to prosecute and evict offenders.
“It is wholly unacceptable for anyone to provide false information or withhold relevant information about being homeless in order to obtain housing from the council.”
Duncan Lewis Property and Housing Solicitors
Duncan Lewis property and housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law, including housing fraud and breaches of housing law under the Housing Act.
There are Duncan Lewis offices across the UK and our property lawyers and housing team are also able to advise on:
• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlords’ obligation under the Housing Act
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Lease extensions
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.
For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis property and housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.