A NATIONAL crackdown on tenancy cheats who unlawfully sublet their council or housing association properties has promised Newham Council �100,000 from a �19 million government fund tackle the abuse through investigations and tenancy audits to ensure the lawful tenants are living in the property. It is estimated that at least 50,000 social homes in England are being unlawfully occupied from one in 100 in some parts of the country to more than one in 20 in some inner London boroughs.

Tenancy cheats live elsewhere, but can earn thousands of pounds a year charging higher rents for their social homes. If caught, these cheats lose their tenancy and can lose their right to a social home in future.