Aibu to report neighbours

They've put more money into trying to stop fraud but that won't necessarily mean people being watched. The normal procedure if someone is suspected of benefit fraud is to go for a compliance interview

I don't get it, if they want to chose to live somewhere else, then they don't need it surely? the whole point of council's placing them away from their family, that is the reality for many many many people. My kids won't be able to afford to live on our doorstep. It also sounds like they are a family so not a single young person who is placed away from all they know.

A council tenancy is for those who needs to be housed, no other choice, if the area doesn't suit them, rent privately near your other family.

My neighbour hasn't put his bins out in years -because he doesn't live there. His nephew has Downs Syndrome and the night time carers stopped going in after COVID. He's a fire risk and can't be left alone. The council know and they have no interest in trying to evict him

If this is a secure council tenancy very few places would make people wait two years to exchange. It's immediate in Scotland and in England it's generally 12 months

The neighbours are very foolish to have told you their circumstances.

Back in the 1990s I was in a housing association flat when I went to USA for a year long work exchange. I had a system to turn on the light at random times which meant utilities got used. I also arranged for a friend to pop in a couple of times a week and open my mail. He spent a few nights there to get away from his partner and even posed as the tenant when the HA wanted to inspect the fire door. Of course the workmen don't care who opens the door so long as they get access and can tick off their job sheet. Meanwhile the rent got paid. It was a tower block and these tend to be very anonymous. The neighbours probably thought my friend was the actual tenant.

You actually KNOW this as fact( bearing in mind you rarely see them) or are you just taking a wild guess?

They are not living in it so they clearly do have a choice!

Yes. So who makes up the shortfall?

What shortfall? If they hVe social housing at £450 rent they can afford where's the shortfall

If private rental at£1200 they may not be able to

I'd be very interested in the council's response if you do report it OP.

Equally again they couldn't. You seem to know more about neighbours you never see than I do about mine who have lived there 20 years.

If it's only " could" why mention it. I could be a millionaire, or I could be living on the streets. Neither are true but.... So your surmising is the same

Fair. No shortfall in that case (are they still £450???) but there will be elsewhere if someone else’s rent is private and covered by benefits because that tenant isn’t able to get into this house that OPs neighbours think isn’t good enough for hem.

either way, they’re not entitled to the house if they have somewhere else to live. If they have £450 to fritter away on that, they probably do have £1200.

You would seriously be an unpaid servant to these people who are taking the piss out of the social housing system? And on what planet would the council take 18 months to do anything about it? They will issue an NSP, and say they have information that suggests they are not living there. The council needs to demand that they show them the last 3 months utility bills, and 3 letters addressed to them dated over the last 3 months. And not next week's date, last week's! And they need to go and change the locks if they can't provide any of this.

I think they need to be investigated for benefit fraud too, as they may be claiming housing benefit.

No one knows that this woman is claiming benefits.

The council would not just go and change the locks. A notice of possession of recovery has to be served and then they would need to go to court

No-one knows that they AREN'T claiming benefits either.

Best to report them so they can't take the piss even more than they're already doing.

Also, in my post, I said they MAY be claiming benefits, more likely housing benefit...... (not that they definitely were.....)

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Housing element on UC.

Did you actually read my post, at ALL?! 🙄 I said they need to issue an NSP.... If you knew anything about this you would know that this a Notice to Seek Possession.

I did not say they could just 'change the locks.'

Im in Scotland. It's worded differently here. Hth. And yes I know something about it. I worked in supported housing for 20 years

Definitely report it, there is probably a family desperate for a council house!

Maybe they are Russian spies ?

Or part of a terror cell ?

Or it's an MI5 safe house ?

Totally agree. I'd definitely report

Compliance interviews aren’t used where fraud is suspected. They are normally routine/random checks on claims or when information needs to be confirmed or updated.

Sometimes there is an escalated compliance interview where a routine compliance interview indicates a problem, but when fraud is actually suspected the DWP will carry out an investigation - where necessary using undercover surveillance during which they can monitor comings and goings, take photos and interview neighbours.

When they’ve built a case they will ask the claimant to attend interview under caution. Unlike compliance interviews, IUC is part of a formal criminal investigation, the interview is conducted under the rules of PACE and the claimant is read their rights.

It's annoying when so many people are on the waiting list for social housing and in temp accommodation.

However, I suspect if you report it all that will happen is they feel compelled to move in and spend more time there, whilst working out who reported them so they can take their revenge.