to dob on a friend that is subletting her council flat

[fruitloop13]

Nc but regular.

I have a friend that was lucky enough to get a council flat in pimlico when she was unemployed and single with two kids.

Now she has moved out of it but is subletting the entire flat and manages to make more money a month than I do sloging my guts out in a job I hate.

As you might of guessed maybe she isn't a friend, more a friend of friend. But would it be wrong to tell on her?

I would love a council flat, but seems like I've got a better chance of winning the lottery so this rubs it right in my face.

[InfinitySeven]

She had her chance. She chose to move out of her secure tenancy and into a home that she can only afford by stopping other people from living there.

If she will really make herself homeless again, then the council will have to step in and house her and her children again, somehow.

But she's put herself in this situation, and you condone it if you ignore it. It's not minding your own business - this is everyone who has needed housing helps' business. And tax payers, of course, because they are likely to be subsidising the home that she is letting out to other people.

Warning her is pointless. She knows what she is doing.

[schokolade]

How do you know this is the case? Hearsay?

[fallingdownrabbit]

In my (professional) experience the borough are likely to do nothing. If they are getting rent paid and there is no asb it is unlikely to be a priority for them.

It is likely to be a breach of tenancy (although you can't say for sure) but not a criminal offence

[fallingdownrabbit]

overuse of likely there

[whois]

Report. Absolutely no question.

[VinoTime]

Report her. And don't feel bad about it.

There is a serious housing crisis going on. While she's lining her pockets with sheer greed, some poor and vulnerable family are being bounced around from bedsit to bedsit hoping to hear the wonderful news: We have a home just in time for Christmas.

I have no time for people like this.

[Binkybix]

I think it might have been recently changed to be a criminal offence. Some councils have whole teams who investigate sub-letting like this, Westminster might do too.

I'd report it.

[RandomFriend]

I wouldn't report her. She is using the money from the rent to pay rent elsewhere.

What would be the outcome if you report her? I presume the borough would give her a warning that the flat is for her personal use and that subletting is against the tenancy agreement? She would then be forced to move back in to the council flat. I don't see that that benefits anyone.

Presumably the flat she now rents is more convenient for her work? and the tenants who are subletting are happy? Both of those families would be made worse off by reporting. And if she simply moves back in, there is no flat freed up for the families that need it.

[fruitloop13]

Thanks everyone. I can't quite bring myself to report her. I'm writing an anon note giving her a friendly warning that she has until the 1st jan until she is officialy reported.

[sparechange]

fallingdown,
Depending on which road the flat is on, it will be either K&C or Westminster, but both are proactive about recovering flats and/or money
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21938139
www.rbkc.gov.uk/businessandenterprise/fraudawareness/tenancyfraud.aspx

[Viviennemary]

I wouldn't bother with the friendly warning. It might be traced back to you. I'd report to the council. And it isn't really a good idea to send people anonymous letters. You could get yourself into trouble and why should you she's the one in the wrong if she doesn't own the flat.

[Starlightbright1]

I would report it. It is different to benefit fraud. Letter will be traced back to you.

She will already know what she is done is wrong.

[Rebecca2014]

I am usually against reporting people but we have a huge problem with lack of properties. How dare she!

[Mmolly2013]

that sounds reasonable fruitloop. its easy for people on a forum to just simple say report but as you say you know this friends back story. so before you report your right to at least give her a chance to sort it now before its too late.

[SunnyBaudelaire]

letters cannot 'be traced back' anyone who says that needs to get a grip, or has been reading far too many Agatha Christie novels.
snailmail is far more secure and anonymous than email these days.

[elfycat]

I'm writing an anon note giving her a friendly warning that she has until the 1st jan until she is officialy reported.

not all that friendly.

I'd report her. I know you posted earlier that it might change her circumstances so that she ends up in need of housing support. But there are clear rules, which are trying to make an overstretched system fair for everyone who needs the service. She's blatantly ignoring this making it unfair for someone else who would appreciate the opportunity of a home for their family.

But the system in this country will not leave her homeless and starving. She'll end up at the bottom of the pile, and perhaps when she gets her next break she'll appreciate the chance of stability.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Report her for tax evasion too?

[RandomFriend]

sparechange very interesting links. OP's friend is running a very high risk by subletting the flat. Even if she moves back in, it is something that could come back to her at any point in the future.

In these circumstances, a friendly warning would be kind.

[ClawHandsIfYouBelieveInFreaks]

Anonymous letters are just awful things. OP just tell her you've heard the council are doing a spot check in the NY and she could lose everything, make out you know someone who knows someone who works for Housing in Pimlico.

[Sallyingforth]

Sorry fruitloop but you are being too soft. She may even just ignore an anonymous warming since it shows that the sender is afraid to report.

Even if she does stop it she will have got away with it and is likely to try more deception somewhere else.

Cases like this must be publicised, to discourage others from depriving needy people of their homes.

You should report it to the council now. No question.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Report if you want. But don't do it secretly while being friends with her. Very snake like.

[VanitasVanitatum]

Well if you report her and she has to go back in the waiting list for a flat she can joint the queue she has been holding up.

If she's been in dire straits herself she should understand how much other people need the help that she has taken for her own profit. Really so selfish.

Friends of mine have been the sub-letters in this situation too and were suddenly made homeless at very short notice, awful situation.

[MyDogSnoopy]

Report her fgs, someone needs that flat desperately.

[SunnyBaudelaire]

she wont get back on the waiting list if she has made her self 'voluntarily homeless'

[Aherdofmims]

I would but if you feel brave enough maybe warn her that you will do this if she doesn't stop.