Council tenants prosecuted for subletting

George William Keates formerly of Swanborough Place and Jaqueline Lewin-McKibben formerly of Kingswood Flats, both in Brighton, face prosecution for unlawful sub-letting of council property by Brighton & Hove City Council at Eastbourne Magistrates Court on Friday 19 June.

Mr Keates, who now lives in Coventry, has been sub-letting his council property for 2 years, and it is estimated that he has profited by £15,244.00 over that period of time. He faces one count of unlawful subletting of council property contrary to the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.

Ms Lewin-McKribben who lives in Abbotsbury Close Saltdean, sublet her Brighton council property for 3 years, and is facing one count of unlawful subletting of council property contrary to the Fraud Act 2006. She has recently resigned from her position as an Immigration Officer for the Home Office.

Chair of Housing and New Homes, Councillor Anne Meadows, said:

“It is abhorrent that council housing is being denied to some of the most vulnerable in our city, especially in these times of austerity when the problem of homelessness is growing. Every council home is a precious resource, and the council employs a zero tolerance policy towards anyone who attempts to defraud us and deny potential tenants a home.”