Social housing tenancy fraud and misuse cost the Northern Ireland public purse an estimated £8million in 2024-25, but the full extent of the issue is still unknown. That is among the findings of a report published today (Tuesday 2nd June 2026) by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Dorinnia Carville’s report on “Tackling Social Housing Tenancy Fraud” considers the social and economic impact of fraud and misuse. It follows a 2013 Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report, and subsequent Inquiry from the NI Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), on the same topic. Today’s report finds that some progress has been made, but that significant work is still required to address previous NIAO and PAC recommendations.
Northern Ireland has approximately 134,000 social homes, most of which are managed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), with the remainder managed by Registered Housing Associations (RHAs). Today’s report notes that, at a time when demand for social housing has reached unprecedented levels, Northern Ireland still lacks an evidence-based estimate of the scale of tenancy fraud, despite this being recommended more than a decade ago. Estimates in England suggest that up to one in 30 social homes may be affected. Were this rate to be applied locally, it would mean as many as 4,000 properties in Northern Ireland could be subject to some form of tenancy fraud or misuse.
By comparison, in 2024-25, a total of 284 social houses were recovered in Northern Ireland as a result of tenancy fraud and misuse. Today’s report notes these cases incur a financial cost to the local economy (for example, investigation costs, legal costs and temporary accommodation costs), with latest estimates putting the cost of each case at £28,450. For the 284 houses identified, his equates to a total cost to the public purse of approximately £8 million in 2024-25.
The report does acknowledge progress made by the Department for Communities and NIHE to develop measures for tackling tenancy fraud and misuse. These include the establishment of a Tenancy Fraud Unit in the NIHE and the creation of dedicated channels for members of the public to report potential fraud. However, it concludes that there remains
scope for improving detection and the recovery of more social housing properties.
Commenting on the findings, Dorinnia Carville said:
“Each case of tenancy fraud and misuse denies a social home to someone in need, at a time when housing waiting lists are at record highs. There is also a significant financial cost, with a direct cost of £8 million in 24-25. In addition, my report last year on Homelessness in Northern Ireland highlighted that a lack of social housing is resulting in an increasing and costly reliance on temporary accommodation, with expenditure continuing to rise to over £40 million in 2025.“
“Tackling this issue effectively starts with understanding the scale of the problem, which has been inhibited by an uncoordinated and inconsistent approach to recording and reporting data. I have therefore recommended that the Department establish an evidence-based baseline estimate within the next six months. My report also recommends that the Department makes it a requirement of both the NI Housing Executive and the Registered Housing Associations to implement an annual co-ordinated programme of tenancy fraud and misuse audits, to help ensure a more strategic and joined-up approach across the social housing sector."
ENDS