Watford MP, Richard Harrington is delighted that his Private Members Bill on the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud, has passed its second reading in the House of Commons today.
The Bill includes measures to criminalise unlawful sub-letting of social housing property and to introduce proper punishments and effective deterrents, to allow for social landlords to recoup any profit made on the property and give local authorities greater powers to prosecute tenants that defraud them.
Richard chose to introduce this legislation for his Private Members Bill after growing concerns that there was no legislation for this type of fraud, the most prevalent form of housing fraud, meaning that it has continued to occur without real consequence.
Unlawful subletting at the most conservative estimate, affects over 50,000 properties across the country, denying these homes to many thousands of deserving people who have been on housing waiting lists for months and years.
The Bill has an overwhelming consensus of support from both sides of the Commons, and in the Government consultation on Social Housing Fraud, which had its Government response released today, also found strong support for all the measures in the Bill.
Richard said:
“I am very pleased that the Bill passed its second reading today and can further progress into becoming law.
“Criminalising unlawful sub-letting has been talked about for some time and will make a real difference to all local authorities and housing organisations as well as to the lives of the vast majority of law-abiding people waiting for a social home.
“I am encouraged that this Bill has received such widespread support and I look forward to working with parliamentary colleagues and housing organisations to make this Bill law.”
Housing Minister Grant Shapps said:
"I am delighted that Richard Harrington's Bill has passed this vital stage in Parliament. It gives us an even greater chance of making tenancy fraud a criminal offence.
"The actions of tenancy cheats means thousands of families in need who would otherwise have stable, secure homes are instead languishing on waiting lists. Richard's Bill will finally mean that these fraudsters don't just lose their tenancy but feel the full force of the law once and for all."