A 53-year-old London woman who abandoned her own council home to move in with her husband, continued to claim £9,000 in housing benefit and council tax, Tottenham Magistrates’ Court has heard.
Local publisher the Tottenham Journal reports that Vivienne Attipoe deserted her home in Gloucester Road in Tottenham, north London to move in with her husband in Enfield in 2003.
In May 2012, she tried to buy her home under Right-to-Buy and lied on a form to try and secure the home at a discount.
However, council investigators discovered she had been claiming benefits at the address while living with her husband in Enfield, north London.
On 26 November, Attipoe appeared at Tottenham Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation and three charges of failing to notify the authorities of a change in circumstances. Attipoe is due to be sentenced on Monday, 22 December.
After the hearing, Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources and Culture, Councillor Jason Arthur, said:
“We will always prosecute when we find evidence of fraudsters abusing the benefits system for personal gain, so that we can get council homes in the hands of the people who need them.”
It is estimated that every council home left unoccupied by the legal tenant costs the taxpayer £18,000 a year.
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Duncan Lewis benefit fraud solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge for benefit fraud, including benefit fraud charges relating to:
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For expert legal advice on benefit fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis benefit fraud solicitors on 020 7923 4020.