A city council has launched a major campaign to tackle social housing tenancy fraud, beginning with a temporary key amnesty that allows tenants to return properties without facing punishment if they have been using them illegally.
The amnesty is open until the end of the month and is the first step in a wider enforcement programme aimed at stopping the misuse of council and housing association homes across the city.
Manchester City Council has said that once the amnesty period finishes, it will step up checks and investigations into suspected fraud and will take legal action where criminal offences are discovered.
The council believes that tenancy fraud reduces the number of homes available for families who are waiting for social housing or currently living in temporary accommodation.
Councillor Gavin White, executive member for housing and development, said that every fraudulent tenancy takes away a home that could otherwise be given to a family in genuine need.
He explained that whether the fraud is committed deliberately or through misunderstanding of tenancy rules, the impact is the same and places extra pressure on the housing system.
Councillor White also warned that tenancy fraud is not a victimless issue. He said it damages communities and costs the council millions of pounds each year, money that could instead be used to improve local services and support residents.
He encouraged anyone who suspects they may be breaking the rules to come forward during the amnesty. The council will work with those individuals to help them move into legal housing arrangements and free up properties for others.
Despite having one of the largest social housing stocks in the UK, with more than 70,000 council and housing association homes, Manchester is facing growing demand for affordable accommodation.
At present, around 20,000 households are registered on the city’s housing waiting list, including approximately 11,000 families classed as being in priority need.
At the same time, the council spends millions of pounds every year on temporary accommodation for residents who are waiting for a permanent home.
The authority estimates that between 3% and 6% of all its social housing tenancies may be fraudulent, meaning that thousands of properties could be in the wrong hands.
Previous cases uncovered by the council have included tenants living elsewhere while renting out their council homes privately at full market rates.
Other examples have involved unauthorised subletting of spare rooms and properties obtained through false information or misleading applications.
Alongside the fraud crackdown, the council is also working on wider plans to increase housing supply. Under its 2022 housing strategy, Manchester aims to build at least 10,000 new social rent, council and affordable homes by 2032.
After the amnesty ends, a specialist team will continue reviewing suspected fraud cases. The council has warned that the amnesty will not apply to properties already under investigation, and those found guilty after the deadline may face prosecution.
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