Nearly 50 council and housing association homes have been taken back from fraudsters in the past year, saving around £2.8 million, according to Wandsworth Council.

The council's audit committee has carried out 268 investigations in the last 12 months, with a further 82 in progress, in which 48 homes have been reclaimed.

Councillor Clare Salier, cabinet member for housing, said: “We won’t hesitate to take action against fraudsters who are not only depriving homeless and overcrowded households of a home, but who are also cheating other law-abiding, rent-paying tenants and Wandsworth taxpayers.”

Tenancy fraud can include unlawful sub-letting, retaining tenancy of a council home while living elsewhere, or falsifying claims for succession.

The investigations made by the council were done in collaboration with the South London Legal Parntership and the South West London Fraud Partnership.

Anyone with information about council homes being sub-let or misused can report this to the South London Fraud Partnership on this number: 0208 871 8383.

Alternatively, you can email swlfp@wandsworth.gov.uk