Wandsworth Council cracks down on unauthorised social housing subletting

Khalid Sharif sublet his property in Wandsworth to another individual through an estate agency. The unauthorised subletting came to light following pro-active system checks by the Council, and the case was then referred to the Council’s internal fraud resource, the South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP). 

An investigation found that the Council property was being sublet for £1,400 a month, six months of which had been paid upfront.  The property had been advertised and rent collected through an estate agency. 

The case was heard at Wandsworth County Court in December 2025. Mr Sharif argued that he had bought the property and so could sub-let it. However, the Council proved that he had not bought the property and so his subletting was not authorised. 

The Council won the case and Mr Sharif was ordered to pay £29,860.48 and surrender the property back to the Council. The Council can now let the property to someone on the Council’s housing waiting list. 

Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said:  

“Council housing provides a safe and secure home for those most in need. When that system is exploited for personal financial gain, it deprives someone of a much-needed home and contributes to longer waiting lists across Wandsworth. There is no place for unauthorised subletting in our borough, and along with the South West London Fraud Partnership, we will use the full extent of the law to root out people abusing the system.”  

The South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP) Counter Fraud officers provide the internal fraud response for the London boroughs of Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton investigating cases of subletting and abandonment, and encourage you to report any incidents where you suspect fraud is being committed to swlfp@wandsworth.gov.uk.