Kingston Council and South West London Fraud Partnership crack down on fraudulent subletting
A former PA Housing tenant has been required to repay more than £95,000 following an investigation into the unlawful subletting of her Kingston social housing property over eight years.
Neena Pandya was found to have rented out her social housing flat to a family of four for £1,000 per month in cash while continuing to receive housing benefit and council tax reduction from Kingston Council. During this time, she resided in her inherited property in Harrow, which she also sublet to several tenants. She did not disclose her inheritance, valued at over £70,000, and continued to claim benefits she was no longer eligible for.
The situation came to light when one of her subtenants anonymously reported concerns to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The case was referred to the South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP), which, in collaboration with PA Housing, carried out an investigation.
During an early morning visit to the Kingston property, SWLFP officers confirmed the presence of subtenants, who provided statements regarding when the subletting began, the deposit paid, and the rent charged. Neighbours also stated that Pandya had not lived at the address since 2015, a claim later verified by Harrow Council.
In June 2024, PA Housing took legal action against Pandya at Kingston County Court. The court ruled in PA Housing’s favour, ordering the return of the property within 14 days, rent arrears of £14,774.15, court costs of £6,213.50, and an Unlawful Profit Order of £75,000. Pandya’s application to suspend the possession order was dismissed, and the property was recovered in October 2024. Additionally, Kingston Council is seeking to recover £69,637.14 in overpaid benefits, while the DWP is taking separate action to reclaim further overpayments.
PA Housing has confirmed that the £75,000 recovered through the Unlawful Profit Order will be reinvested into refurbishing kitchens and bathrooms in tenants’ homes. The award is considered one of the largest of its kind granted to a housing association in a housing fraud case.
The South West London Fraud Partnership encourages anyone who suspects illegal subletting or housing fraud to report it via their website: https://swlfp.org.uk.