Bedford man convicted for illegally subletting social housing property

Taslim Goodluck, formally of Rendlesham Walk, Bedford has been ordered to pay a total of £1,500 after pleading guilty to illegally subletting his bpha house for over two years.
Police are appealing for witnessesPolice are appealing for witnesses
Police are appealing for witnesses

An investigation, conducted by Bedford Borough Council found that Goodluck purchased his own house in Colchester shortly after obtaining the bpha property for himself and his family.

Following his move, Goodluck allowed his cousin to live at the address and collected rent from her for over two years.

Goodluck was prosecuted at Luton Crown Court on January 26 on one count of illegally subletting a social housing property under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.

The court heard that by committing this offence Goodluck had deprived those genuinely in need of a home, and had allowed his cousin to bypass the housing application process.

Goodluck was ordered to pay a fine of £750 and costs of £750 to Bedford Borough Council.

Councillor Michael Headley said: “Bedford Borough Council has a strict housing application processes which allows for the fair allocation of social housing to those most in need, and those who attempt to cheat the system can expect to be prosecuted.

“If you know someone not living in their bpha house subletting it to someone else, or someone who lied to get their house, then report it to the council to help stamp out tenancy fraud and make sure houses go those most in need.”

Bedford Borough Council and bpha work in partnership to help identify and tackle tenancy fraud across the borough.