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Council tenant given 20-month prison sentence for Right to Buy fraud
A council tenant who fraudulently attempted to buy her home with a £80,900 discount has been handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Debbie Mclean, 54, from Hove, was prosecuted by Lewes District Council after attempting to buy the three-bedroom house in Green Park Corner, Wivelsfield Green, Haywards Heath in June 2018.
She falsely claimed to live at the house, having in fact moved out and lived at various other addresses in Sussex since 2014, despite remaining the registered tenant.
Had she still been living in the home, Ms Mclean would have been entitled to an £80,900 discount on the property – the maximum allowed outside London under Right to Buy rules.
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An investigation by council counter fraud officers included covert surveillance of Ms Mclean, which proved she was not living at Green Park Corner.
Brighton Crown Court found her guilty of fraud by false representation, in the first case of Right to Buy fraud brought by Lewes District Council.
The local authority has taken back possession of the home.
In addition to the 20-month sentence, Ms Mclean is also required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation activity days and pay a £140 victim surcharge.
Passing sentence, Judge Barnes said that Ms Mclean’s actions were “despicable” and had deprived others more in need of accommodation for the sake of her own self-interest.
William Meyer, cabinet member for housing at Lewes District Council, said: “Housing fraud deprives people in need from having a home and we have a zero-tolerance approach.
“We investigate all reports received and take swift action against anyone [found] offending. This may include prosecution, as highlighted by this case.”
Labour called for an investigation into Right to Buy fraud in September after Inside Housing research found that one in seven council homes sold through the Right to Buy since 2012 has been bought by a tenant on housing benefit.
In 2014, the Audit Commission warned that Right to Buy fraud cases had increased by over 400% in the two years following April 2012 – when discounts were significantly hiked by government.
