A woman has been sentenced after a Hillingdon Council investigation found she submitted a fraudulent housing application despite having a permanent address outside the borough.
Amira Issa, 41, of Tustin Estate, Southwark, received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 1 August. She had been found guilty of two offences under the Fraud Act 2006 at the same court on Friday, 6 June.
She was also ordered to pay £6,167 to the council, a victim surcharge of £154, and attend 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Issa submitted a housing application in February 2021 stating that she had lived at a property on Wraysbury Drive, Yiewsley, since 2009, but that it had become overcrowded and she wanted to apply for a council home.
When the council’s fraud team reviewed the application, they found she had links to an address in Southwark. The court heard that she did not notify the council that she was living away from the Hayes property for a significant period of time.
Her defence argued that the offence was not motivated by personal gain and that she had been attempting to help an ex-partner gain a tenancy after he failed the initial checks. However, magistrates ruled that she had intentionally misled the council, taking into account the cost to taxpayers and the sustained dishonesty.
Cllr Martin Goddard, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation, said: “We’re determined to ensure our residents live in safe, good quality homes and are protected from the risk of homelessness.
“With council homes in short supply and high demand, housing fraud limits the availability of properties for those in genuine need and puts additional strain on public resources due to the cost of providing temporary accommodation.
“Our counter fraud and legal teams work hard to thoroughly investigate all applications, and we won’t hesitate to pursue legal action against anyone who seeks to take advantage of services and swindle the public purse.”*
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
