Sub-letting council properties does not pay

Two Brighton Council tenants prosecuted for illegally sub-letting their properties.

Two Brighton and Hove City Council tenants, George William Keates, formerly of Swanborough Place and Jacqueline Lewin-McKibben formerly of Kingswood Flats, both received one year community orders and fines of £260.00 Victim Surcharge each.

Mr Keates was ordered to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work, and Ms Lewin-McKibben was given 240 hours of unpaid work to carry out.  In addition she will attend three sessions on the Inspire Course which is run by the Women’s Centre in Brighton.

Mr Keates, who now lives in Coventry, was found guilty of contravening the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 having profited by £15,244.00 over a two-year period.  Ms Lewin-McKibben, currently of Abbotsbury Close in Saltdean, sublet her Brighton council property for three years and was charged under the Fraud Act 2006.  She has recently resigned her position as an Immigration Officer for the Home Office.

Chair of Housing and New Homes, Councillor Anne Meadows, said: “It is shameful that this illegal practice persists at a time of such austerity and increasing homelessness. There are more than 20,000 people on our council house waiting list, and yet these two have no qualms in denying others a much-needed home for the sake of greed.”