Wolverhampton Council’s “zero-tolerance” approach to fraud demonstrates the importance of comprehensive and robust fraud investigations – how can your counter fraud team guarantee the same success?
Table of contents
- Introduction
- What was the result of fraud investigations in Wolverhampton?
- Have other councils been successful in clamping down on tenancy fraud?
- Why is it so important that councils conduct proper investigations into tenancy fraud?
- What can councils do to ensure that they have the best chance of success in prosecuting fraudulent social housing claims?
1. Introduction
Over the past year, Wolverhampton Homes has launched investigations into the claims of illegal subletting of council properties and fraudulent social housing taking place in the city.
2. What were the main issues with the expert’s report?
Fraud investigations in Wolverhampton led to 30 homes being taken back and re-let to families, nine housing applications being stopped and five right-to-buy ones being stopped with legal action taken in three cases.
One successful prosecution through the council's counter fraud team resulted in an offender being convicted of subletting a property and being ordered to pay £8,209 in costs.
3. How did this issue affect the claimant expert’s overall evidence?
In May this year, Barnet council reported a saving of more than £2.2 million in temporary accommodation costs by cracking down on social housing fraud. 34 properties were recovered for those in need during the 2024-2025 financial year after being used illegally.
In April of this year, Southwark council secured an Unlawful Profit Order of nearly £40,000 against a tenant who illegally sublet a Walworth property for over a decade and in September last year, Islington Council won back £260,000 in a landmark landlord tenancy fraud case.
4. What was the issue with the expert’s oral evidence?
Nationally, it’s estimated that every property subject to tenancy fraud costs the public purse £42,000.
Savings made in this area could be invested elsewhere. For example, in improving the quality of essential public services and ensuring that those who are genuinely unable to access affordable housing - those on social housing waiting lists or living in temporary accommodation avoid homelessness.
As Wolverhampton Councillor Louise Miles, cabinet member for resources, said, every pound saved from fraud was "a pound that can be invested in vital public services".
5. What can instructing solicitors and expert witnesses learn from this case?
We take a firm stand against fraud, corruption, and any form of dishonesty. There is absolutely no place for it in our borough…That’s why we have strong systems in place to prevent and investigate wrongdoing.
Barnet Council Leader
“Strong systems” in the prevention of fraud are often the result of comprehensive and robust training in fraud investigations.
Bond Solon’s Advanced Professional Certificate in Investigative Practice (APCIP) is regarded as the leading professional qualification for personnel with an investigative role. To date, over 7,000 investigators from a range of government agencies and commercial organisations have successfully completed this qualification.
The qualification is made up of 8 days' training, broken up into four 2-day modules.
We offer in-house training for your counter fraud teams and can deliver the programme either through virtual classrooms or face-to-face, using case studies contextualised to your type of investigation.
If you would like to discuss APCIP with a member of the Bond Solon Investigations team or would like to enquire about booking in-house training for your counter fraud personnel, please contact info@bondsolon.com or call 020 7549 2549.