Social housing moral dilemma

[SolitudeIsHighlyOverrated]

Last year a family member falsified details on their social housing application in order to better their chances of being housed - claimed that they had been evicted from a house owned by another family member and that they and their 3 children were all sofa surfing at separate houses and were therefore being denied the right to a family life.

None of this was true. They all still live together in the house belonging to the family member.

Both adults are in full time employment but don't want to pay private rent and don't want a mortgage.

The family in question have now been offered the chance to have a viewing of a new build social house with a tenancy to follow if they like the house.

This situation is not sitting well with a few family members as we all work within the homeless sector and know how difficult it is to get to the stage of being offered a house in our area.

One family member has now stated that he wants to mention all this at work to the housing team but I'm not sure that sits well with me either.

What would you do?

I have friends with children who are actually being evicted from their home with nowhere to go, and I am sure there are many others out there. I'd let the housing team in on their situation tbh - they have housing and want an easier ride, but there are genuinely homeless families in need.

I'd let the housing team know about your suspicions and then can investigate - I get being desperate to be housed, but that doesn't mean you can break rules and push your way to the top.

I'd tell Housing the truth so a family in more need gets priority.

Come on ☹️ we're supposed to love and care for family. Not deliberately stop them from accessing affordable housing .

Do people really get involved in other people's business like this?

They all still live together in the house belonging to the family member.

Why do they need to be rehoused? Is the family member kicking them out?

Both adults are in full time employment but don't want to pay private rent and don't want a mortgage.

This is the shitty part of your post. You are aware that people in social housing including couples with children often both work? Due to the current high cost of rent and mortgages it is now common for 2 working adults not to be able to afford rent or a mortgage.

What a wanker.

I'm currently being evicted through no fault of my own and I'm nowhere near getting a social house ☹️ I'd love any home that is secure for us right now.

I'd be telling your local Council. Someone in desperate need could have that home.

But I still don't understand how they have pulled this off without a section 21/8? The council ask for all kinds of proof of eviction. They don't just accept people's word for it. I had to even send bank statements and all sorts proving my rent payments.

Sod that I’d tip off the housing team. I know there’ll be lots of “cool” people along who think that fraud is fun and games but the system is broken enough without people purposefully lying.

I completely agree with this.

Are they also pretending to be single ?

@Reugny Just for some clarification. I am aware that many people in social housing work - I already stated that I work in that sector.
We are in NI and our rents/housing costs are not as crazy as most appear to be in the rest of the UK.
Some other family members have provided "proof" to the local Housing Executive to state that various members are sleeping in their spare bedroom/sofa/dining room in order to aid their application and see nothing wrong in doing this. That's the bit that doesn't sit right with the rest of us given the information we are privy to in work relating to other people's applications.
Both adults are in professional jobs so they are not in a minimum wage barely making ends meet type situation.

What other examples of fraud are you happy to help family members commit?

Surely you have a duty to report as part of your role?

Report them. This infuriates me. Really.

Not sure how it works in NI but our council would check income and if you earn enough they would not put you on housing list but into private rent.
Therefore yes they have exaggerated housing situation but they must fulfil other criteria for housing.
I do not begrudge anyone an affordable home. Blame the government for two full time adults feeling they need to cheat the system to get secure housing.

Depends. They may well not be actually being evicted, but are they cramped in a house with another family? Not sure from the wording of your post. Or do they have a house big enough for them that they don't have to leave? Why aren't they staying there if so?

Don't want to rent or buy - are you sure they would be able to afford to do this.

If they have managed to get all the way to the top of the housing register then they've done more than tell a few fibs about who lives where. If you live in an area that social housing is oversubscribed (where is it not?) then they've got to have had a very high number of points and they would have had to provided a shed load of proof.

It is very difficult to get social housing!

The family member is stopping people who actually need it from accessing affordable housing.

Why should OP "Love and Care" for this person when I means going completely against her own moral compass.

It's not clear if they are actually technically homeless and living in someone else's home but just not in such a dire situation as they've presented. If they are actually a homeless family, regardless of how bad things are , then they are obviously just doing what they can to play the game and get themselves a proper home for their children. The desperate aren't always able to be concerned about morals.

I'd keep out of it. Presumably the team involved in their application are able to make the assessments needed.

moral dilema ? nah.
im not buying that.If you previously suspected/knew this was the route being taken and endorsed by the family and indeed (liars)other members of family to speed up their application you would have felt compromised wayyyyyy before now.if your moral claim was worth a sook- you and the other disgruntled would of,could of...stopped that going this far.
You didnt. As a few of you work that sector- you are more than aware of the "system". theyve pulled a number and worked it.Take that as a lesson.maybe.You must know if n what the implications +impact revealing the truth at the point they are at will have.
not just on them,other family member who played along,all of you employed in that sector.
Its shite.By all means-indicate your abhorrance/disaproval. Moral dilema would be pulling the rug..at Xmas and exposing a whole lota improperness. YOU will never be forgiven for.

My sister did something similar and it sickened me.

I told her how bad it was because there were people genuinely homeless (I was which is how she got the idea) and stopped speaking to her over it.

I didn’t report her though.

Yup, I'd shop them in an instant. Despicable thing to do.

Surely they also have to provide information about employment and how much money they earn though?

It amazes me how many people discuss their business with friends and family members in mumsnet 🤷

I would report it