Tenancy Fraud Investigations
What Can You Expect From Our Professional Tenancy Fraud Investigators
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What is tenancy fraud?
Tenancy fraud is the act of misleading a landlord in order to occupy a home; this can be one that is let privately, or one provided by a social housing association. There are several types of tenancy fraud, but all can result in eviction if discovered.
At UKPI, we help landlords get to the bottom of suspected tenancy fraud, gathering evidence of wrongdoing, and pursuing either a civil court outcome or a criminal conviction.
Why investigate tenancy fraud?
Tenancy fraud is not only an unnecessary expense and inconvenience for landlords, it also prevents suitable housing being let to those who need it. Fraudulent tenancies often lead to overcrowding, damages, or even criminal activity, as well as stopping landlords from maintaining their properties to a good standard, which is required by law.
How we investigate tenancy fraud
To investigate tenancy fraud, we first work with you to discuss your suspicions, and understand how and where we can gather evidence to support your case. Then, our highly trained operatives will use a combination of surveillance and research that proves the tenancy fraud in a way that will stand up in court.
Is tenancy fraud a criminal or civil matter?
Tenancy fraud sits across both criminal and civil law. This means that the evidence we gather can be useful whether you’re pursuing the perpetrators of tenancy fraud within a civil court, a criminal court, or both.
The types of tenancy fraud
Believe it or not, there are several kinds of tenancy fraud that landlords should be aware of. They are:
Unlawful subletting
This is a common one; it sees the person named on the tenancy agreement renting out the property to someone else unbeknownst to the landlord – and certainly without their permission.
Unlawful assignment
A tenant that stops using the house on which they have tenancy as their main home, and instead allows someone else to live there without the landlord’s permission.
Obtaining housing by deception
If someone gets accepted onto a tenancy by giving false information on their application, they’re committing tenancy fraud.
Wrongly-claimed succession
If a resident dies and someone who isn’t entitled to the tenancy takes over without permission, this is tenancy fraud.
Falsified Right To Buy/Right To Acquire applications
Tenancy fraud is committed where tenants give false information on a Right to Buy or Right to Acquire application.
Key selling
This is where a resident sells the keys to a property in return for a lump sum.
How to deal with commercial tenancy fraud
Prevent where possible
Preventing fraud in the first place may save money in the long run. As landlords will understand, regaining possession or pursuing other legal action against a tenant who has misled you, and therefore is living illegally, is costly and stressful.
Gather evidence
Where tenancy fraud is occurring, you need all the evidence you can get. This is why it’s important to choose tenancy fraud investigators that possess the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to get the job done right. With the relevant evidence, a strong case can be built against the perpetrator.
Go beyond audits
Tenancy audits rarely stop fraud from happening; if a tenant knows when an inspection is going to happen, then it’s not hard for them to be at the property during that time.
Unannounced tenancy are prohibited under UK law unless there is an emergency. Additional checks may require more resources upfront if the real tenant isn’t home during the first visit, but if they’re consistently absent after that point, it could provide essential evidence in trying to get possession of the property back.
The benefits of tenancy fraud investigations
Getting help from professional housing tenancy fraud investigators can help landlords and the wider community in the following ways:
Reduces financial loss
Addressing tenancy fraud works to prevent revenue loss for landlords and housing associations. Instead, these funds can be used for property maintenance, and community initiatives.
More housing for genuine tenants
By identifying fraudulent occupants, investigations can free up housing for those in genuine need of it. Housing is known to be limited in the UK – fair access should be maximised.
Enhances community trust and safety
Thorough investigations can deter future fraud, promoting transparency and contributing to safer, more stable communities by reducing problems like overcrowding and unreported property misuse.
Why hire UKPI for housing tenancy fraud investigations?
Tenancy fraud can cost genuine tenants the choice of suitable properties, and landlords and housing associations in lost rent, legal fees, and property damage. As commercial tenancy fraud investigators with over 25 years of experience, we’ve investigated plenty of fraudulent tenancies, getting justice for landlords, and learning more about how these fraudsters operate. This means we can gather evidence quickly, effectively, and legally, so that you can return to renting your properties out to genuine tenants quickly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Red flags that could indicate tenancy fraud include reports of occupants you don’t know about, frequent short-term visitors, difficulty getting hold of your tenant or meeting them at the property, unusually high wear and tear, or complaints from neighbours about noise or overcrowding.
It’s difficult to give a timeframe for our investigations, as it can vary depending on the case complexity. However, most investigations are completed within a few weeks. We provide an estimate after our initial consultation.
Of course; we conduct all investigations discreetly, ensuring the privacy of both you and your tenant.
The costs depend on the investigation’s scope and the methods and resources required from us. You’ll receive a tailored quote once we understand your specific needs during the initial consultation.
Yes, we work with social housing providers across the UK to uncover tenancy fraud.
Firstly, contact us for an initial consultation. We’ll assess the situation, discuss possible investigation methods, and advise on the next steps for collecting evidence.
Yes, it can. We provide thorough, legally-compliant reports and evidence that can support court proceedings.
Contact UKPI today to begin your tenancy fraud investigation
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