News from Sheffield Labour

Blomfield welcomes Government crackdown on fraudulent sub-letting

Paul Blomfield, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Central, has welcomed the Government’s launch of the first-ever crackdown on people who fraudulently sub-let social housing.

The Labour Government is handing £4m million funding to Councils to set-up their own anti-fraud initiatives, and has handed over 8000 leads and tip-offs to Councils and Housing Associations for them to chase up. Sheffield Council has been given £50,000 funding to set up investigation teams and special hotlines. The crackdown aims to rapidly recover 10,000 council and housing association homes that are currently illegally sub-let. A £500 reward will be made to anyone whose information leads to the recovery of one of the first 1,000 homes.

Paul Blomfield said:

“I’m very pleased that Labour’s Housing Minister John Healey has launched a national crackdown on people who fraudulently sub-let social housing and cheat everyone else in real need of a home.

“I hope Sheffield Council makes the best use of the £50,000 Government funding and acts quickly on the local leads among the 8,000 that have been identified nationally. By setting up investigation teams and special hotlines they can encourage people to come forward and provide tip-offs if they know illegal sub-letting is happening. I hope the Council rewards members of the public whose tip-offs lead to homes being recovered.

“Labour is building more council homes and this crackdown will free up even more homes for people in need of a home.”

Housing Minister John Healey added:

“We can’t allow cheats who sub-let to hang onto the tenancies of council houses they don’t need and don’t live in. I want people to feel the system for housing families who need homes is fairer and that’s why I’m launching this national crackdown on tenancy fraud.

“This is first-ever fraud drive nationwide, which could free up as many as 10,000 homes for those on council waiting lists, with £4million and 8,000 hot leads for suspect tenants, 147 councils across the country can today get this crackdown on fraud off to a flying start.

“Public tip-offs are vital in tackling this problem, so I am also offering £500 to anyone whose information leads to us recovering one of the first 1,000 homes.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012