Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council house? : Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:51 pm  

I am not sure of all the circumstances under which people may sublet but if it's simply a case of moving out to make money or subsidise a mortgage then yes. There are presumably circumstances were sub-letting may be reasonable eg moving to try to find a job in another location but needing a fallback. In those circumstances I wouldn't see a problem provided the matter is cleared with the council (as landlord) in advance.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:33 pm  

Simply, yes. In fact I thought it already was an offence.

Taking your scenario, it should be a lot easier to transfer tenancies between council areas.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:03 pm  

If you're not sure don't risk it Dally, you had to wait long enough to get housing to place you.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:40 am  

IMO It should be a criminal Offence. I don't think theres any laws yet in place but according to THIS ARTICLEthere soon will be.

IMO It should be a criminal Offence. I don't think theres any laws yet in place but according to THIS ARTICLEthere soon will be.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:57 am  

I am surprised it wasn't already an offence.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:56 pm  

New offences may have some minor impact within a year or two. Not as much as the hundreds of thousands of homes made unaffordable to the poor at the stroke of a pen this week. Wonder what the plan is for them. benefit cuts will put 800,000 homes out of reach

New offences may have some minor impact within a year or two. Not as much as the hundreds of thousands of homes made unaffordable to the poor at the stroke of a pen this week. Wonder what the plan is for them. benefit cuts will put 800,000 homes out of reach

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:04 pm  

As with others above, I thought it was an offence already but maybe it's only a civil offence, like a breach of contract.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:27 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

As with others above, I thought it was an offence already but maybe it's only a civil offence, like a breach of contract.

That would be a "civil wrong", not an offence. Offences are criminal only. And I am sure, in many cases already being committed. For example, obtaining property by deception; or various other fraud related offences. You would be committing fraud by making false statements in your application for the housing. For example that you intended to live there.

The big difficulty would be in getting the police to investigate or the CPS to prosecute. If a specific offence is created, that becomes much easier.

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:50 pm  

If you are the person named on the rental contract, and you then invite another person to share the property and help out with the bills etc, are you then sub-letting ?

I understand that this proposal is to stop individuals from signing a rental agreement and then never living there at all but letting it instead to a third party, but as always could the legislation catch the wrong people, bad legislation made in a hurry and all that...

Re: Should it be a criminal offence to sub-let a council hou : Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:57 pm  

No, you're avin a lodger