Major social landlord brings first prosecution for tenancy fraud

The social landlord said that, at a sentencing hearing in late March, Nosa Ogie had received five concurrent two-year suspended sentences for attempting to purchase his social home through fraudulent means.

He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,800 in legal costs.

Ogie had been illegally subletting the property for six years while submitting a false application through the Right to Acquire scheme.

Furthermore, he made a separate fraudulent attempt to buy a social home managed by Barking and Dagenham Council under the Right to Buy scheme.

Initially convicted in 2023, Ogie appealed the decision but later withdrew his appeal at a pre-trial hearing in March 2024, L&Q said.

He was charged with four offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and one under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.

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In February 2023 council officers processing a Right to Buy application flagged inconsistencies in Ogie’s records. Further inquiries revealed he was also a tenant of a one-bedroom property at Robert Lewis House, Barking, which is managed by L&Q.

A joint investigation by the council and L&Q confirmed that Ogie had applied to purchase the same home under the Right to Acquire scheme, without disclosing his existing  tenancy.

Nicola Evans, Tenancy Fraud Manager at L&Q, said: “Partnership working is fundamental to tackling social housing fraud and ensuring a fair system.

“By working together to gather evidence, bring the case to court, and reclaim this property, we've secured a permanent home for someone in genuine need.

“This is a great result for residents, the wider community, and ultimately, the taxpayer too.”

Cllr Syed Ghani, Barking and Dagenham’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “I would like to appreciate the sterling work of our Right to Buy Sales and Letting team and colleagues from L&Q for being able to unearth this fraudulent and dishonest act.”

In the first half of 2024-2025, L&Q recovered 67 homes from fraudulent occupancy, saving an estimated £2.8m.