See council press release below, given the scale of social housing need, subletting is by no means a victimless crime, and it's good to see action being taken.
Camden housing tenant receives criminal conviction in legal first
Camden Council has become one of the first London local authorities to prosecute successfully a council tenant for housing fraud under the Fraud Act 2006, because he sublet his council property.
Camden’s housing investigation team successfully prosecuted the tenant under sections 1 and 3 for failing to disclose information to make a gain and exposing the council to loss, resulting in a criminal conviction.
On 28 January 2008 Oladapo Talabi was granted a secure tenancy in NW1. He was granted the tenancy due to overcrowding of the family home.
In September 2010 Oladapo Talabi rented out his property for approximately six months for the sum of £780 per calendar month. The person who rented the property paid £5,586 to an estate agent who was handling the letting on Talabi’s behalf. From this amount Mr Talabi received a lump sum of £4,000.
Following an investigation by Camden’s housing investigation team, Talabi was charged and on 1 September 2011 at Highbury Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.
Mr Talabi returned to Highbury Magistrates Court on 26 October 2011 for sentencing.
District Judge Henderson took the view that Talabi had used the rental income to pay off his debts, particularly his rent arrears, and for that reason did not send him to prison but gave him a Community Order of 12 months comprising 100 hours unpaid work. There was no further award of costs as there were costs of £750 awarded to Camden at a previous hearing that are still being repaid.
Camden Council have proceedings for possession of the property listed in the Central London County Court to be heard in December 2011.
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