Court hands former social housing tenant one of ‘largest of its kind’ unlawful profit orders after unlawful subletting of property over eight years

A former PA Housing tenant has been ordered to pay back more than £95,000, including £75,000 under an unlawful profit order (UPO), after an investigation into the unlawful subletting of her Kingston property.

The award is considered one of the largest of its kind granted to a housing association in a housing fraud case.

Neena Pandya rented out her social housing flat to a family of four for £1,000 per month in cash despite continuing to receive housing benefit and council tax reduction from Kingston Council and living in another property which she had inherited.

She additionally did not disclose her inheritance, valued at over £70,000, and continued to claim benefits she was no longer eligible for.

The situation came to light when one of her subtenants anonymously reported concerns to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), leading to an investigation from the South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP) and PA Housing.

PA Housing took legal action in June 2024, with the court ordering the return of the social housing property within 14 days, rent arrears of £14,774.15, court costs of £6,213.50, and a UPO of £75,000.

Pandya’s application to suspend the possession order was dismissed, and the property was recovered in October 2024.

Additionally, Kingston Council is seeking to recover £69,637.14 in overpaid benefits, while the DWP is taking separate action to reclaim further overpayments.

Harry Rodd