A key amnesty during January and February which allowed anyone not living in their council home or illegally subletting it to hand back their keys rather than face possible criminal investigation and potential legal action, resulted in nearly 70 calls to a dedicated fraud hotline and the recovery of three properties.

Joyce Duffin, Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing and environment said: “To have three homes returned during the two month key amnesty is a real success. That could potentially be three people or families who will now be able to have a council house of their own. With the huge pressure we have in Cornwall for social housing, it is wrong for people to be benefitting when they are not entitled. I am really pleased that the public have made use of the amnesty opportunity.”

A new home costs on average well over £150,000 to build and there are almost 28,000 households registered on Cornwall Homechoice seeking an affordable home, making it even more important that those committing tenancy fraud do not get away with depriving other households out of the homes they need.

Illegal subletting happens when a council home is let to a tenant and that tenant then moves out and illegally lets the property to someone else – usually at a higher rent.

Cornwall Council’s Corporate Fraud Team and Cornwall Housing Ltd have been working in partnership since August 2014 to tackle tenancy fraud and, in what is believed to be the first such prosecution in Cornwall under new Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act legislation, a former tenant was convicted of tenancy fraud in December for illegally moving out of and then subletting a council house. The former tenant was given a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay Cornwall Council’s full investigation and legal costs after admitting moving out of the property and subletting it.

Jane Barlow, MD of Cornwall Housing said: “This prosecution shows that this type of activity will not be tolerated by Cornwall Housing Ltd. We have been working in partnership with Cornwall Council’s experienced Corporate Fraud Team and as a result of the amnestry, three homes have been surrendered.

"We have seen evidence of how introducing a key amnesty has worked well in other parts of the country. By bringing the issue to the public’s attention, other authorities saw an increase in referrals to its tenancy fraud hotline and we have seen the same results here. We know that the overwhelming majority of residents live in their homes legally and that they share our commitment to tackling tenancy fraud and I would encourage anyone who suspects someone of committing tenancy fraud to get in touch.”

The initiative was launched in the wake of a change in the law.

The introduction of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 in October 2013 means people illegally subletting their property can now face a prison sentence of up to two years, a criminal record, or a fine of up to £5,000.

Residents wishing to report somebody who may be illegally subletting or is not living in their home can do so in complete confidence by calling the Council’s dedicated fraud hotline on 0800 7316125 or emailing tenancyfraud@cornwall.gov.uk.

Further information on www.cornwall.gov.uk/keyamnesty