The loss and harm caused by fraud in the public sector is substantial. According to the National Fraud Authority Annual Fraud Indicator 2013, local government faces an estimated annual loss of £2.1 billion due to fraud. More recently, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) estimated that local authorities in the UK identified and prevented £239.4 million in fraud during 2019-20.
Ipswich Borough Council is committed to safeguarding public funds and operates a zero-tolerance policy towards fraud and corruption. Our Corporate Fraud Team is dedicated to fraud prevention, detection, investigation, and intelligence gathering.
Tenancy fraud
What is tenancy fraud?
- Unauthorised sub-letting (a tenant claims to live at a property but sub-lets all or part without the landlord's consent).
- Non-occupation (a tenant claims property as their principal home but lives elsewhere).
- Using false information to obtain a tenancy.
- Key selling (a tenant leaves a property and passes the keys on in return for a favour or payment).
- Unauthorised exchange and assignment (a tenant gives the tenancy to a partner or family member who lived in the property with them without obtaining the landlord's permission).
- Wrongly claimed succession (the occupier is not a person entitled to succeed after a tenant's death or after they have vacated the property and/or succession rights have been exhausted).
If you suspect tenancy fraud please contact the Council, providing details and the reasons you suspect fraudulent occupation. Your identity will be kept confidential. Call us or report online via the button below.
Please note that the button will open in a new window.
Non-tenancy fraud
Non-tenancy fraud involves fraud related to other Council services, including:
- Business Rates
- Council Tax Reduction
- Council Tax Single Person Discount
- Insurance
- Licensing
- Procurement
- Grants
If you suspect non-tenancy fraud please contact the Council, providing details and the reasons you suspect fraudulent activity. Your identity will be kept confidential. Call us or report online via the button below. Please note that the button will open in a new window.
Benefit Fraud
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigates housing benefit fraud. If your report concerns only housing benefit fraud, please report it online on GOV.UK.
Whistleblowing Policy
Whistleblowing is a way for employees and other Council workers (including staff working in partnership with the Council), to raise a genuine concern.
Our whistleblowing policy is available to download as a PDF below.
Download Ipswich Borough Council - Whistleblowing Policy - March 2024 (PDF)