Almost 40 council properties have been reclaimed following a London Borough of Hillingdon crackdown on people committing housing tenancy fraud.

Since April 2011, 36 properties have been reclaimed from tenants who had been illegally sub-letting their homes or who were not entitled to live there.

Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health and Housing, Cllr Philip Corthorne, said: "People who illegally sub-let local authority tenancies are denying those residents in real need of a home. In Hillingdon this is something we will not tolerate and anyone caught faces losing their property for good."

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To date, reclaiming the properties has saved the council around £1/2 million and has led to the local authority being recognised across the country for its success.

The council's 'Blow the whistle on housing cheats' campaign has also helped identify fraudsters thanks to residents calling in with their concerns.

Yiewsley resident Toni Butler, who was previously on the housing waiting list, now lives in a three-bedroom house that was reclaimed from a fraudster who was subletting the property.

The mother of three said: "I am relieved to be housed permanently. The children have a garden and I now feel settled. My daughter is pleased to have her own bedroom."

(CD)