Nearly 6,000 social homes in England are suspected of being illegally sublet on short-term rental platforms, according to data shared between local councils and Airbnb. The scheme, coordinated by the Cabinet Office's fraud team, allows councils to cross-check social housing records against Airbnb listings in an effort to tackle what the government calls "social housing fraud."
Early results from the initiative suggest 470 cases have been identified across participating local authorities, with offenders facing penalties including eviction, fines and up to two years in prison. The Tenancy Fraud Forum, a not-for-profit organisation, estimates that at least 1,000 social homes are illegally advertised for short-term lets on Airbnb in London alone over a year – a figure likely far greater if other platforms are included.
“Nearly 6,000 social homes in England illegally sublet on Airbnb, data sharing reveals.”
Subletting an entire social housing property is an offence. According to the Cabinet Office, whether a tenant can sublet a room depends on the terms of their individual tenancy agreement and may require the council's permission. Fraudsters could include people who have more than one home or are living abroad. The government estimates each case costs taxpayers around £78,300, covering temporary accommodation for genuine applicants, legal costs to recover property, and rent foregone during the void period.
Geraldine Girardi, a leaseholder who has lived in a mixed-tenure Notting Hill Genesis block in King's Cross for 26 years, believes one social housing flat in her building has been illegally sublet as short-term accommodation. "Recently there's been lots of people coming and going with suitcases. They're not residents of the building," she said. Residents had repeatedly found lockboxes attached to the building, which are frequently removed and relocated. "It's really obvious someone's trying to avoid detection," Girardi said.
Some campaign groups argue that tackling illegal subletting will have "very little impact on the acute housing crisis." The Tenancy Fraud Forum did not comment on the broader implications, but the government maintains that each recovered property helps reduce the strain on social housing waiting lists.