Amnesty for Harrow's housing fraudsters

Aug 12 2010 By David Baker, Harrow Observer

FRAUDSTERS who have been raking in cash by sub-letting council homes could get off scot-free.

Housing officers at Harrow Council are giving tenants who rent to a third party the chance to anonymously hand back the keys to the property without fear of reprisals.

The council hopes numerous homes will be turned over before the amnesty ends, allowing it to house some of the 522 families awaiting a home.

Many of these families are currently in private rented accommodation. Putting a family into bed and breakfast costs the council s7,000 a year.

Once the two-week exemption is over, the council, aided by government funding and additional

resources, will crack down on illegal sub-letting. Anyone caught will be prosecuted and could earn a criminal record.

The scheme is the first of its kind in London.

But not everyone is impressed with the way the council has decided to go about it.

Ed Roberts, 48, of Eastcote Lane, South Harrow, said: "I can fully understand that people are in desperate need of these houses, and the sooner they become available the better, but some of these criminals could have been raking in the money for years, and it's a bit of a kick in the teeth for taxpayers to see them getting away with it.

"Why, when we as a country are funding a crackdown on the fraud anyway, should we allow some of them to walk away without prosecution?

"They have benefited monetari

ly at the cost of people in need of housing and legitimate taxpayers and now they can just get away with it."

Illegal sub-letters can, without fear of reprisal, drop the keys and details of their property into an unmanned box at the council reception area, 'Civic 1' in the civic centre in Station Road.

Any rent arrears will have to be paid but there will be no prosecution.

Portfolio holder for housing, Councillor Bob Currie, said: "Illegally sub-let properties are depriving hundreds of families the chance of a home in Harrow.

"This amnesty has the potential to save the council money and bring properties back into use for people who really need them."

The amnesty runs from August 23 to September 6.

**What do you think? Email davidbaker@trinitysouth.co.uk.