Housing Solicitors

A joint initiative between The Guinness Partnership, housing association Family Mosaic and the London Borough of Hackney has led to the recovery of the one-hundredth illegally sublet council property in Hackney, east London.

Online publisher Dash24 reports that the home repossessed was being let to a woman living abroad, who had sublet it in her absence.

A tip-off to Family Mosaic revealed that the woman and her husband were illegally subletting two council homes – one belonging to The Guinness Partnership and the other the property of Family Mosaic.

The couple were earning £400 per month from the letting scam, with the current tenants paying rent to the landlord and paying additional funds to the woman and her husband via a bank account in Angola.

The investigation into the housing scam was led by Daniel Helps for The Guinness Partnership. Mr Helps said:

“Following the allegation to Family Mosaic and subsequent credit checks, their investigator uncovered a link to one of our tenants, who hadn’t told us she was no longer living at the property or had got married.

“Through joint visits to both properties in Hackney, east London – and with assistance from the London Borough of Hackney – we found all the evidence we needed to prove that these properties were both being sub-let without permission.

“These two homes have now been recovered and are in the process of being re-let to families on the council’s waiting list.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Lawyers

Duncan Lewis housing lawyers can advise on a wide range of housing matters, including housing possession and unlawful eviction.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid lawyers and can also advise rental tenants and social housing tenants on:

• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Landlord & Tenant disputes
• Local Authority housing
• Nuisance neighbours.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.