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Getting tough on sub-letting
TWO Wigan families have been prosecuted for sub-letting council homes, it has been revealed.
Wigan and Leigh Housing are getting tough with tenants who attempt to make extra cash in breach of their agreement.
It comes after new legislation was announced by the Government to stamp out the practice.
However, the organisation, which manages the borough’s 23,000 council homes on behalf of Wigan Council, said local authorities in the south of England faced much greater problems because of the pressure on housing availability there.
Sub-letting involves the tenant charging rent to another person who occupies all or part (for example a bedroom), of the property.
Such action over the whole property is a breach of the tenancy conditions. Where the case is proven, a court will grant possession of the property back to the council.
As well as being against the rules and providing income to the tenant, it also prevents a household on the waiting list from using the property.
Wigan and Leigh Housing encourages tenants to report any instances where they see sub-letting taking place and will then investigate and take appropriate action.
However, tenants who take in lodgers are still able to charge them for a room as long as they have notified Wigan and Leigh Housing about their intentions.
A spokesman for Wigan and Leigh Housing said that sub-letting wasn’t a significant problem in Wigan.
Since 2009 they have taken legal action against two tenants who have been guilty of sub-letting their council tenancy. But all complaints of sub-letting are investigated.
Council portfolio holder for Environment and Communities Coun Kevin Anderson said that Wigan and Leigh Housing took a serious view of tenants who sub-let.
He said: “As is shown by the relatively small number of legal cases taken, sub-letting isn’t a significant problem in Wigan.”
Chairman of Wigan Conservative Federation Michael Winstanley is strongly backing the Coalition Government’s move.
He said: “These proposals are well overdue and are necessary to stop tenants sub-letting. I find it amazing that the law allows this practice to happen. It can’t be right for a council house tenant to sublet their property to someone else. Given how many people are on the official waiting list it can’t be right.”
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Comments
There are 15 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Wiglette
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 07:37 PMPending Moderation
JemmyH
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:59 PMJaykay1706, I agree with what you say regarding the selling of subsidised housing, but tell us, where you can buy a private house for £8,000 ?
Jaykay1706
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:47 AMTypical the council bang on about "sub letting" then say that poeople can now buy their council at reduced prices. They know there is a shortage of council houses in the wigan area but they want to flog more off so there will be even less to go round. Whether it lawful to sell off council property or not it is immoral if someone can afford to buy their council house they can afford a private one.
bobby53
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 02:57 PMbeen going on for 30 years in worsley mesnes no big story!
bobby53
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 02:54 PMbeen going on in worsley mesnes for 30 odd years no big story!
Tax Payer
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 01:03 PMRe Post 9: jamesjoseph. I think you may have touched a nerve there reference JemmyH
jamesjoseph
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 09:29 AMI wonder jemmy are you speaking from personal experience,do you sublet your council house?
B. Fletcher
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 09:09 AMThere isn't a 'crime' JemmyH; what the (actual) tenant done is breach their tenancy conditions which leaves them subject to a civil action for possession caused by the breach of contract. The landlord could pursue the actual tenant for any profit made as a result of the wrongdoing. However, once again it would be a civil matter, it would likely be very expensive, and even where awards were made there would be no guarantee they could actually be recovered.
Dilbert
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 08:20 AMJemmy, you don't see a problem? If the tenant is in a position to sublet then he or she doesn't need the property and should be evicted to allow a more deserving occupant. Not only that, the property is provided and maintained at the expense of the rest of us yet the profit from the letting is retained by the tenant (and, I would guess, no tax paid on it). I can't believe you don't think this is wrong.
Scarecrow
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 06:54 AMThe properties are not theirs to sub let. How many are being sub let to people jumping the housing list and how many are being charged a rent in excess of the council rent.
JemmyH
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 09:21 PMI don't see any crime being committed. The council are still getting their rent, both renting parties are happy and it's a better long-term prospect for the council, as the house still belongs to them rather than it having been bought for a song by the head tenants and rented out anyway.
rockcottage
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 08:25 PMGoes on a lot in housing association property too...More so I'd say, as some HA property is quite new.
cowboy
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:41 PMi bet he is on good money with that fancy title, [Council portfolio holder for Environment and Communities Coun Kevin Anderson said that Wigan and Leigh Housing took a serious view of tenants who sub-let], but what does it mean
cowboy
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 07:40 PMi bet he is on good money with that fancy title, [Council portfolio holder for Environment and Communities Coun Kevin Anderson said that Wigan and Leigh Housing took a serious view of tenants who sub-let], but what does it mean
Scarecrow
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 05:51 PMWhat, only two?
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