Housing Minister warns tenancy fraud ‘not victimless’ as new crackdown plans unveiled

Communities Minster Gordon Lyons (right) pictured with (left to right) Kevin Curran (Northern Ireland Housing Executive), Paula Craig-Peratt (Falkirk City Council), Stephanie Toghill (Tenancy Fraud Forum UK), Katrina Robinson (Tenancy Fraud Forum UK) and Tracey Ellis (Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations).

Housing Minister Gordon Lyons has pledged a tougher stance on social housing tenancy fraud, warning that those who abuse the system are “taking a lifeline from a family in need of a home”.

Speaking at the Social Housing Tenancy Fraud Conference in Belfast, organised by the Department for Communities, Mr Lyons set out his approach to tackling abuse within the social housing system as demand continues to rise sharply.

The event, which coincides with International Fraud Awareness Week, brought together social landlords and sector stakeholders to share best practice on detecting, recording and preventing tenancy fraud.

Highlighting growing pressures on housing supply, the Minister said:

“We are facing unprecedented challenges in delivering social housing as the demand for secure, affordable homes continues to rise. The theme of this conference is ‘Every House Matters’ and tackling every instance of tenancy fraud does matter.

“The true cost of tenancy fraud is felt by people on the waiting list, who, if we do not act now, will wait longer to access a social home.”

He emphasised that cracking down on fraud is essential to protecting limited housing stock.

“We must protect our current housing stock, ensuring each home goes to and remains with those who need it most,” he said.

Mr Lyons told delegates that prevention must be prioritised.

“As Housing Minister, I want to see a focus on the prevention of fraud by raising awareness of this issue. There must be clear powers in place to enable social landlords to intervene and stop fraud when it is uncovered. Ultimately, there must be a deterrent, particularly for the most serious cases of tenancy fraud.”

The Minister stressed that the consequences of tenancy fraud reach far beyond financial loss.

“When individuals commit tenancy fraud, it is not victimless. They are taking a lifeline from a family in need of a home. I call on all representatives here today to continue to work together to eradicate fraud and ensure our housing system is fair and focused on those who are most in need.”

During the conference, Mr Lyons also confirmed that he will launch a public consultation on proposals to strengthen policy and legislation aimed at tackling tenancy fraud.

The consultation, he said, will seek views on new powers, improved recording practices, and enhanced deterrents for the most serious forms of abuse.

With social housing demand at record levels, the Minister said it was vital that every available home is safeguarded for those genuinely in need.