1. Avril Drummond Counter Fraud Manager
Poplar HARCA Amnesty
Avril Drummond
Counter Fraud Manager

2. Poplar HARCA PowerPoint template
Introduction
Poplar Harca manages 9,000 properties in densely populated Tower Hamlets, London
Counter Fraud officer employed in April 2015
Training for all front line staff took place to improve detection of tenancy fraud
Training also rolled out to surveyors and contractors, particularly gas engineers
Reporting line opened – confidential online report form
£500 reward offered, if property recovered
Press release highlighting the amnesty
07/11/2018
Poplar HARCA PowerPoint template

3. Introduction continued
Posters put up in all communal areas, and notice boards
Amnesty reported to all 12 Estate Boards.
Details of sent out with quarterly rent statements to all residents
Details of amnesty also highlighted in Harca Life, publication sent to all residents and information on how to report suspected subletting
All reports of subletting are investigated (Streetwise used as management system)
We also investigate every RTB application and succession application
Our ethos is, tackle tenancy fraud, do not tolerate it
07/11/2018

4. Two amnesties, 6 properties recovered
1st amnesty – ran from 1 July – 31 August 2015
3 properties recovered
2nd amnesty – ran from 1 January – 28 February 2018
07/11/2018
Poplar HARCA PowerPoint template

5. Current amnesty in 2018
Highlighted in local press - East London Advertiser
Amnesty announced on our website and on our facebook and twitter feeds
Information sent out to all residents on quarterly rent statements
Reward increased to £1000 for any reports during amnesty, which lead to successful recovery of the property. After the amnesty the reward will return to £500.
Received more reports of tenancy fraud during the amnesty
07/11/2018

6. Poplar Harca achievements
42 x properties recovered since April 2015
10 RTB refusals
Saving to Poplar Harca £6.7M (cost of rebuild and loss of RTB discount)
Poplar Harca featured in two series of BBC’s Council House Crackdown
Additional application form added to RTB process, which is now used as standard across most Local Authorities and Registered providers
Strong partnership with Thurrock Council’s Counter Fraud and Investigation Department
Criminal prosecution in 2017, suspended prison sentence handed to former tenant, and currently waiting for confiscation order
UPOs brought to every civil possession case – largest one for £66,000
07/11/2018

7. Current workload Currently have 26 live investigations
39 joint investigations with Thurrock Council
4 criminal prosecutions with Thurrock Council
13 investigations in a pending file
23 RTB investigations
5 legal cases awaiting civil possession hearings
Further joint training with Thurrock planned for all front line staff
Review of appeals process for tenants after notices have been served
07/11/2018

8. Thank you for listening, any questions?
07/11/2018
Poplar HARCA PowerPoint template