Should I change my income on my self employed accounts and pretend I earn more so that I can rent privately

[sev70]

Hello there,

I am trying to escape domestic violence. I have a home jointly owned with husband but he refuses to leave.

Doing an occupation order could mean we still live together for a few more months and this would kill me.

He is a bully and although he doesn't resort to physical violence, it's only because I am black belt karate.

Anyway... I am self employed and only earn 5K/ year. I do my own sets of accounts because I use to work as an accountant.

Should I fiddle my accounts for the past 3 years and "swell" my profits so that I can prove I can pay the rent and then claim for housing benefit (based on my true earnings) without thing anyone.

My question is: do agencies check incomes of self employed by contacting inland revenue (who have my true figures).

Could I get away with it?

Thanks for reading.

So an anonymous member of an internet forum posts a story you cannot verify proposing to commit a criminal offence and you offer to assist them, thereby committing a criminal offence yourself and putting yourself in a position where the landlord could sue you personally to recover any loss?

It may be "just a tenancy reference" but if the OP lies about her income that is fraud and, since you know her statements are false, you would also have committed an offence. The landlord could take action against you for deceit and fraudulent misrepresentation in that you would have made a statement knowing it to be false, knowing that the landlord would rely on it and knowing that it could lead to the landlord suffering financial loss. You could be held personally liable for all losses reasonably flowing from the false statement.

Also if the landlord becomes aware that the OP has lied about her income or that you have provided a false reference that is grounds for eviction.

Calm down prh

I actually wouldn't worry about it. I'm an accounting tech too and I do the books for a few builders. All legit and above board. One of the has moved around a bit and I had a call from a lettings agency when I was in the supermarket. They wanted to know his net profit for the last year. I told that I didn't have the exact figures to hand but I could give them a ballpark figure - they accepted it and I didn't hear anything else except that he got the new house!

Yeah whatever. Or more likely the form looks exactly like all the other forms I've been asked to fill in on behalf of my clients and merely asks for "income ".

I'm sure you know best though with all your vast experience of filling in tenancy reference forms on behalf of clients for the past 25 years. Oh no that would be me. I'm getting us both muddled up.

Calm down prh

I am perfectly calm.

I'm sure you know best though with all your vast experience of filling in tenancy reference forms on behalf of clients for the past 25 years

I know exactly what the law says. It appears you do not.

Tenants have been evicted for lying about their income. It is one of the specific grounds for eviction set out in law.

Tenants being prosecuted for fraud is rare but a tenant was jailed for 2 years in 2013 for misrepresenting her income in order to lease a property.

It is rare but referees have been successfully sued by landlords for damages after knowingly giving false references.

I am surprised that someone with your experience believes that you can knowingly give a false reference without any legal comeback. If you consult a solicitor you will get the same advice I have given. They will also point out that your insurance will probably not cover you if you are sued by the landlord having knowingly given a false reference.

Where did I say I give false references or commit fraud? You just extrapolated.

I answer honestly the questions asked. They just don't ask the right questions. For example (I think it's Homelet ) ask what my clients income is. Not profit. Or earnings.

And to be frank what I chose to put in references has fuck all to do with you. I didn't start this thread looking for opinions.

I've been a qualified accountant for over 20 years and I've managed to get by absolutely fine, without being sued, without having to defer to the advice of someone who ISN'T an accountant on random forums.

Thank you for your polite reply.

The OP in her original post is talking about falsifying her accounts in order to rent. That is fraud.

If the reference form asks for financial information and you give figures you know to be incorrect you are giving a false reference. If the form does not request financial details or asks the wrong questions there would be no problem with your reference.

If you honestly answer the questions asked there is clearly no problem. If you do as the OP seems to want and answer dishonestly or give answers that are deliberately misleading that is another matter.

You are right that what you put on references has nothing to do with me. It is entirely up to you what risks you choose to take.

Being an accountant does not make you an expert in the law.

Don't falsify anything.

If you're a qualified accountant, could you use those skills to generate more regular income? Bookkeeping looks like pretty flexible work that you could possibly fit around the children?

the last thing you need is a fraud conviction which will end your earning power. Who wants to take on a crooked accountant?

make life easier and do things the honest way. You have a guarantor which will probably allow you to rent.

Oh my!!! What have I done!! I AM sorry I sure didn't want to upset anyone with that question!!

I really appreciate all ur "passionate" comments.

Verypissedoffwife: thank you very much for ur offer. It is very selfless and kind of u. however, don't worry, I'll be ok!

Listen guys, I have no intention of committing fraud. Also, I am fully aware of my link with AAT thank you very much. However, I haven't worked in a practise for 10 years and I have no intention of going back to it. Ever. It's just a VERY handy skill to have and it has saved me loads of money in accountancy fee.

Anyway, I do have a guarantor and I also have collateral so it's just a question of waiting to be accepted somewhere. I can't bring myself to lie but when u are desperate you know? It had to cross my mind because I am trying to find solutions. But overall, I think it would be a bad idea.

Thanks for ur help though guys! This has been very informative for me. Sorry if anyone got offended somewhere along the line.

Peace!