Andy Lane

Record fraud crackdown saves half a billion for public services Government stops over £480 million ending up in the pockets of fraudsters over twelve months since April 2024 - more money than ever before.

Record fraud crackdown saves half a billion for public services
www.gov.uk/government/n...

Counter fraud team saves nearly £3m for Central Bedfordshire Council in first 10 years A specialist anti-fraud team has netted £2.9m savings for Central Bedfordshire Council in its first ten years, along with notional benefits of an extra £8m, a meeting heard.

www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk/news/politic...

www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/news/article...

Barking and Dagenham Council helps secure two further arrests in suspected fraud crackdown Following on from our statement of 4 September, four individuals in Dagenham and Essex have now been arrested as part of Operation Chandrila.

Barking and Dagenham Council helps secure two further arrests in suspected fraud crackdown

www.lbbd.gov.uk/news/2025/ba...

Council claws back huge sum in overpaid housing and benefits fraud The team also looked into suspected cases of council houses being used as short-term holiday accommodation and stopped nine such cases

Council claws back huge sum in overpaid housing and benefits fraud

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

Due to planned tube strikes next week, we've unfortunately had to reschedule our Public Law in 2025 conference to 29 Sept.

This new date will ensure we can deliver the high-quality event we have planned and the best possible experience for all attendees.

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Two arrested as police suspect 'corrupt' council staff allocated 'hundreds of homes for cash' Investigators believe there was blatant advertising on social media offering prospective tenants a means to beat the queue for affordable housing.

Police investigate lettings of hundreds of affordable homes by allegedly corrupt housing officers in Barking and Dagenham

news.sky.com/story/two-ar...

Philip Coppel KC and Natasha Peter acted for
Epping Forest District Council in securing an interim injunction to stop the Bell Hotel being used for asylum seeker accommodation.

Fraudulent housing application leads to court sentence | City Of Wolverhampton Council A Wolverhampton resident has been sentenced for providing false information in an attempt to gain priority access to social housing.

A Wolverhampton resident has been sentenced for providing false information in an attempt to gain priority access to social housing.

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Council uncovers nearly half a million pounds in fraud Huntingdonshire District Council has uncovered nearly half a million pounds in fraudulent activity across the region.

www.huntspost.co.uk/news/2538635...

‘Anti-Fraud Team busts string of sub-letting scammers’

www.lbhf.gov.uk/news/2025/08...

Why have we let side-hustle private landlords seize control of our housing – and our politics? | Peter Apps Failed Thatcherite policy monetised complex housing needs. No wonder those who benefit are loth to change it, says Peter Apps, a contributing editor at Inside Housing

Why have we let side-hustle private landlords seize control of our housing – and our politics?
Peter Apps

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Grateful thanks to @spikenorman.bsky.social (NL's Wales housing law correspondent) for a part 1 on the huge changes to homelessness law proposed in the Homelessness and Social Housing (Wales) Bill. From an English perspective, this is remarkable stuff.

nearlylegal.co.uk/2025/08/home...

Woman sentenced for housing fraud in North Herts

www.north-herts.gov.uk/news/woman-s...

A really interesting case both with regard to the original judgment and how the appeal was in fact progressed on the day. Great work by Sarah and Olivia.

Excluded by definition: the narrow reading of “stepchild” and housing succession claims  | Cornerstone Barristers On 31 July 2025, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Abdelrahman v Islington LBC [2025] EWCA Civ 1038. The appeal concerned whether, […]

Court of Appeal rules “stepchild” in a discretionary succession policy means child of a spouse or civil partner only - not long-term partner.

Sarah Salmon and Olivia Davies represented the London Borough of Islington

Learn more: cornerstonebarristers.com/excluded-by-...

Judge tells colleagues to be ‘on their guard’ over expert witness evidence Patrick Hodge, supreme court’s deputy president, wants judges to improve their scientific and technical literacy

Judge tells colleagues to be ‘on their guard’ over expert witness evidence

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/aug...

No need to apologise Jacob. You raised an interesting point. It does read as if there is something more to it but I don't know what that is!

The tenant isn't named but I take the point. The real issue is that a social unit was recovered from somebody 'misusing' it. I will delete the post.

It would seem to be though the report is very limited.

Housing fraudster ordered to pay council £165,000

councilnews.dudley.gov.uk/news/housing...

In many housing fraud matters it is best dealt with by local authorities in my view because they often have the particular experience and expertise required. As for investigations they also often have bespoke powers eg under regulations made under the 2013 Act.

A bit of both really. For example, the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 gives an express right to prosecute to the local authority.

Protecting the public purse: Sandwell Council tackles fraud – Sandwell Council A joint statement from Councillor Paul Moore and Councillor Liam Preece on Sandwell Council's Annual Counter Fraud Report for 2025:

Protecting the public purse: Sandwell Council tackles fraud

www.sandwell.gov.uk/news/article...

AI fuels surge in identity fraud, as people sell their personal information - Fraudscape six-month report
www.cifas.org.uk/newsroom/fra...

Daily Mail publisher loses attempt to lift anonymity order - Free Movement The Court of Appeal has refused an application to lift the anonymity order protecting the identity of a woman who lacks the capacity to litigate. The case is

New from Free Movement: Daily Mail publisher loses attempt to lift anonymity order | Sonia Lenegan freemovement.org.uk/daily-mail-p...

Right to buy in England ‘fuelled housing crisis and cost taxpayers £200bn’ Common Wealth report calls discounted sales of council homes one of the ‘largest giveaways in UK history’

Right to buy in England ‘fuelled housing crisis and cost taxpayers £200bn’ www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

I could not be more excited for this! Powerhouse of public law thinking, Prof Liz Fisher, is giving the keynote at this year's @cornerstonebarristers.com Public Law day!! Full programme and tickets here: cornerstonebarristers.com/event/public...

Hearings in important test case on fitness for human habitation within rented premises in Wales | Cornerstone Barristers Today the Divisional High Court of Wales begins three days of further hearings on a landmark test case concerning the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. […]

The High Court will hear restitution claims in the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 test case: Coastal Housing v Mitchell.

Tenants seek rent refunds due to missing ECRs.

Read more: cornerstonebarristers.com/hearings-in-...

#HousingLaw #Wales

Court of Appeal confirms legality of Tower Hamlets' homelessness database.

📌 No indirect discrimination under Equality Act 2010
📌 Improves speed & transparency in allocation
📌 Gender not recorded

Kelvin Rutledge KC acted for Tower Hamlets Council

cornerstonebarristers.com/court-of-app...