What is a Tenancy Review?
A tenancy review involves a visit from one of our staff who will check that our records about your household are up to date.
Why are you completing Tenancy Reviews?
Getting to know you
So that we can make sure our services meet your needs and you’re getting the most out of your tenancy with us, we would like to get to know you and the people that live with you. Gathering this information will help us to make sure that everyone receives a fair service no matter who they are.
The information shared with us helps us to understand who our customers are, so we can shape the services we create around them.
You can read our Vulnerable Residents and Reasonable Adjustments Policy and our Equality and Diversity Policy for more information here.
Regulatory Obligations
We also must carry out these checks to ensure that our records are up to date. Verifying who lives in the property can help us and you in an emergency situation. It can also help us protect against things like tenancy fraud, cuckooing, and to identify and assist with any support or safeguarding issues.
We have a regulatory obligation to detect and prevent tenancy fraud. Tenancy fraud means that those with a genuine need for a home have to wait longer to be housed, it takes away an opportunity for a family or person to have a safe and secure home, and it’s something we take very seriously.
What should I expect?
Tenancy reviews are unannounced, but we will always introduce ourselves, provide identification and explain why we’re visiting you in your home. If you are unsure about the identity of anyone visiting on behalf of Hexagon, please call our Customer Services Team on 020 8778 6699.
During the visit we will ask who lives in your household and ask for identification for all household members. This could include a birth certificate, a passport or driving licence. This information will be recorded on a secure on-line form and our staff will take a picture of your documents to upload. All personal data will be held securely, in line with our Data Protection policies.
If you have any questions, please contact Customer Services Team 020 8778 6699.
What is Tenancy Fraud?
In October 2013, the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act (PoSHFA) was passed, making it a criminal offence for social housing tenants to sub-let or to acquire social housing through deception. Offenders face prosecution which can result in an unlimited fine and/or two years in jail.
We take illegal subletting very seriously. Every social housing home that’s illegally sublet or tenancy that’s obtained dishonestly deprives a person or family in need of an affordable home.
The most common types of fraud are where:
- A tenant is not living in their property as their only or main home.
- A tenant has rented out their property and is not living there.
- Someone tries to take over a tenancy after the tenant’s death when they are not eligible.
- A tenant knowingly providing false information or failing to disclose information when applying to buy a property under the Right Acquire or Social Homebuy scheme. This includes not living in the property as their only or main home.
- Someone has or is attempting to get a social housing tenancy based on false information they have provided.
- An assignment or mutual exchange application is made fraudulently.
If we detect Tenancy Fraud, we may seek possession of the home and we may seek to get back all illegal profits made through an unlawful profit order. Prosecution will be pursued wherever possible and practical.
You can read our full Tenancy Fraud Policy for more information.
How can I report Tenancy Fraud?
If you suspect someone is committing Tenancy Fraud you can contact us – anonymously if you prefer – either via our Customer Services Team on 020 8778 6699 or by email to tenancyfraud@hexagon.org.uk
