A tenant who illegally sublet her Barnet flat for more than four years has been ordered to pay £40,000.

Winsome Williams, of Stevenage, started to rent out her housing association home at Durham Court in Tapster Street, High Barnet, in March 2019.

Two women and a child lived at the home, while Williams and her husband lived in a house in Stevenage.

Bank statements show that until November 2023, the 46-year-old received rental payments of more than £60,000 from the sub-tenants.

The offence only came to light after one of her tenants was given an eviction notice, and applied for housing in October last year.

Barnet Homes then established that the flat was owned by housing association Notting Hill Genesis, and that Williams was the social housing tenant, not the landlord.

An investigation found that the first sub-tenant was added to the electoral register in November 2019, and the second sub-tenant was added in December 2020.

Williams then admitted that she moved out and sublet the home during an interview under caution with counter-fraud officers. The flat was subsequently seized.

Appearing at Willesden Magistrates Court on August 22, Williams pleaded guilty to illegally subletting her home.

She was fined £477 and ordered to pay £40,000 in compensation, plus £2,314.70 in costs.

Barnet Council claims that it is thought to have saved more than £1.3 million in temporary accommodation costs by cracking down on social housing fraud.

It estimates it has retained a further £1.5 million by stopping fraudulent right-to-buy applications.

Cllr Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet Council, said: “This case shows that there is no place for illegal subletting in Barnet and that we will use the full extent of the law where it is found.

“Our anti-fraud officers are investigating across the borough, so my message to those subletting illegally is: stop now, or we will find you, and you will pay the price.”

If you suspect anyone of committing fraud in Barnet, please contact CAFT@barnet.gov.uk or call the fraud hotline on 0208 359 2007.