Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/3/enacted
Timestamp: 2018-08-18 07:06:13
Document Index: 677775525

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 6', 'art 2', 'art 6', 'art 1', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 5', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 5', 'in fine']

1Unlawful sub-letting: secure tenancies
(ii)part of the dwelling-house without the landlord’s written consent,
(b)the tenant ceases to occupy the dwelling-house as the tenant’s only or principal home, and
(ii)part of the dwelling-house without the landlord’s written consent, and
(b)the tenant ceases to occupy the dwelling-house as the tenant’s only or principal home.
(b)a person in respect of whom an application may be made to have the tenancy transferred to P or to another person to be held for P’s benefit.
2Unlawful sub-letting: assured tenancies
3Prosecution of offences
(1)Proceedings for an offence under section 1(1) or 2(1) may be brought within the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to the prosecutor’s knowledge.
(2)But no such proceedings may be brought more than three years—
(b)in the case of continuous contravention, after the last date on which the offence was committed.
(3)A certificate signed by the prosecutor and stating the date on which such evidence came to the prosecutor’s knowledge is conclusive evidence of that fact; and a certificate to that effect and purporting to be so signed is to be treated as being so signed unless the contrary is proved.
(4)Subsections (1) to (3) also apply in relation to an associated offence which is a summary offence (to the extent that they would not otherwise apply to that offence).
(5)A local authority may prosecute an offence under section 1 or 2 in relation to a dwelling-house—
(a)whether or not the dwelling-house is or was let under a tenancy under which the local authority is or was the landlord, and
(b)whether or not the dwelling-house is located in the local authority’s area.
(6)Subsection (5) also applies in relation to an associated offence (to the extent that it would not otherwise apply to that offence).
4Unlawful profit orders: criminal proceedings
(1)This section applies if a person (“the offender”) is convicted of—
(a)an offence under section 1 or 2, or
(b)an associated offence in relation to an offence under section 1 or 2.
(2)The court by or before which the offender is convicted—
(a)must, on application or otherwise, decide whether to make an unlawful profit order, and
(b)may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, make such an order, instead of or in addition to dealing with the offender in any other way.
(3)An “unlawful profit order” is an order requiring the offender to pay the landlord an amount representing the profit made by the offender as a result of the conduct constituting the offence.
(4)If the court decides not to make an unlawful profit order, it must give reasons for that decision on passing sentence on the offender.
(5)The amount payable under an unlawful profit order must be such amount as the court considers appropriate, having regard to any evidence and to any representations that are made by or on behalf of the offender or the prosecutor, but subject to subsections (6) and (7).
Determine the total amount the offender received as a result of the conduct constituting the offence (or the best estimate of that amount).
Deduct from the amount determined under step 1 the total amount, if any, paid by the offender as rent to the landlord (including service charges) over the period during which the offence was committed.
(7)Where an unlawful profit order has been made against the offender under section 5, an order under this section may only provide for the landlord to recover an amount equal to the aggregate of the following—
(a)any amount by which the amount of the offender’s profit found under this section exceeds the amount payable under the order made under section 5, and
(b)a sum equal to any portion of the amount payable under the order made under section 5 that the landlord fails to recover,
(8)Subsection (9) applies where the court considers—
(a)that, as well as being appropriate to make an unlawful profit order, it would be appropriate to impose a fine, and
(b)that the offender has insufficient means to pay both—
(i)an appropriate sum under an unlawful profit order, and
(ii)an appropriate sum under a fine.
(9)The court must give preference to making an unlawful profit order (though it may impose a fine as well).
(10)If the amount required to be paid by a person under an unlawful profit order is not paid when it is required to be paid, that person must pay interest on the amount for the period for which it remains unpaid.
(11)The rate of interest is the same rate as that for the time being specified in section 17 of the Judgments Act 1838 (interest on civil judgment debts).
(12)Sections 131 to 133 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (supplementary provisions about compensation orders) apply to unlawful profit orders as if—
(a)references to a compensation order were to an unlawful profit order (subject to paragraph (d)),
(b)references to the compensation to be paid under a compensation order were to the amount to be paid under an unlawful profit order,
(c)section 133(3)(a) and (b) were omitted, and
(d)the reference in section 133(3)(c) to a confiscation order under Part 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 or Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or an unlawful profit order (or both) were to such a confiscation order or a compensation order under section 130 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (or both).
(13)In this section “the landlord” means the landlord under the tenancy in respect of which the offence was committed.
5Unlawful profit orders: civil proceedings
(b)has ceased to occupy the dwelling-house as the tenant’s only or principal home, and
(d)the tenant has ceased to occupy the dwelling-house as the tenant’s only or principal home, and
Determine the total amount the tenant received as a result of the conduct described in subsection (3)(a) or (4)(c) (or the best estimate of that amount).
Deduct from the amount determined under step 1 the total amount, if any, paid by the tenant as rent to the landlord (including service charges) over the period during which the conduct described in subsection (3)(a) or (4)(c) took place.
(a)any amount by which the amount of the tenant’s profit found under this section exceeds the amount payable under the order made under section 4, and
(9)Section 110(3) of the Housing Act 1985 (by which the claimant in proceedings relating to a secure tenancy may not recover the claimant’s costs if the proceedings are taken in the High Court) does not apply to proceedings under this section.
6Loss of assured tenancy status
After section 15 of the Housing Act 1988 insert—
“15ALoss of assured tenancy status
7Regulations about powers to require information
(1)The appropriate authority may by regulations provide for the exercise, for prescribed housing fraud investigation purposes, of powers to require the provision of information.
(2)The appropriate authority may by regulations—
(b)in particular, make provision for the authorisation by local authorities of persons to exercise those powers.
(3)The provision that may be made by regulations under this section includes, in particular, provision equivalent to—
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3), each of the following enactments is a “relevant enactment”—
(a)section 109B of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (powers to require information);
(b)section 110A of that Act (authorisations by local authorities to exercise powers of investigation);
(c)section 121DA(2) and (3) of that Act (interpretation of Part 6 of that Act).
(5)After the repeal of section 110A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012, the reference to that section in subsection (4) is to that section as it had effect immediately before it was repealed.
(6)A person exercising powers conferred by regulations under this section must have regard to guidance issued or approved by the appropriate authority.
(7)In this section “housing fraud investigation purposes” means purposes relating to the prevention, detection or securing of evidence for a conviction of—
(a)an offence under this Act;
(b)an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 relating to the unlawful sub-letting or parting with possession of the whole or part of a dwelling-house let by a local authority, a private registered provider of social housing or a registered social landlord,
(c)an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 relating to an application for an allocation of housing accommodation under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996,
(d)an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 relating to an application for accommodation, or for assistance in obtaining accommodation, under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996,
(e)an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 relating to—
(i)a claim to exercise the right to buy under Part 5 of the Housing Act 1985,
(ii)a claim to exercise the right to acquire under section 16 of the Housing Act 1996, or
(iii)a claim to exercise the right to acquire under section 180 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, or
(f)an associated offence in relation to an offence mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (e).
(8)In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under this section.
8Regulations about related offence
(1)The appropriate authority may by regulations provide for the creation of an offence that may be committed by a person by refusing or failing to provide any information or document when required to do so by or under regulations under section 7.
(4)The appropriate authority may by regulations make provision—
(f)about other matters of procedure and evidence in relation to such an offence.
9Regulations: supplementary
(1)In sections 7 and 8 “the appropriate authority” means—
(2)Regulations under section 7 or 8—
(c)may contain incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision.
(3)A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 7 or 8 may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(4)A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 7 or 8 may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.
(a)“secure tenancy” has the meaning given by section 79 of the Housing Act 1985, and
(b)“assured tenancy” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988.
(2)In the application of this Act in relation to a secure tenancy, the following expressions have the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1985—
“dwelling-house” (see section 112 of that Act);
“landlord” (see section 621 of that Act);
“tenancy” (see section 621 of that Act);
“tenant” (see section 621 of that Act).
(3)In the application of this Act in relation to an assured tenancy, the following expressions have the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1988—
“dwelling-house” (see section 45(1) of that Act);
“landlord” (see section 45(1) and (3) of that Act);
“tenancy” (see section 45(1) of that Act);
“tenant” (see section 45(1) and (3) of that Act).
(4)References in this Act to a member of the tenant’s family (in relation to a secure or an assured tenancy) are to be construed in accordance with section 113 of the Housing Act 1985.
(5)In this Act “shared ownership lease” means a lease of a dwelling-house—
(b)under which the lessee (or the lessee’s personal representatives) will or may be entitled to a sum calculated by reference, directly or indirectly, to the value of the dwelling-house.
(6)References in this Act to the landlord under a secure or an assured tenancy include—
(a)in a case where the tenancy has ended, a person who was the landlord under the tenancy, and
(b)in a case where the tenancy has ceased to be a secure or an assured tenancy, the person who was the landlord under the tenancy when it was a secure or an assured tenancy.
(7)References in this Act to the tenant under a secure or an assured tenancy include—
(a)in a case where the tenancy has ended, a person who was the tenant under the tenancy, and
(b)in a case where the tenancy has ceased to be a secure or an assured tenancy, a person who was the tenant under the tenancy when it was a secure or an assured tenancy.
(8)In this Act “local authority” means a county council, a county borough council, a district council, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
(9)In this Act “registered social landlord” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996.
(10)In this Act “associated offence”, in relation to an offence, means—
(a)an offence of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of that offence,
(b)an offence of attempting or conspiring to commit that offence, or
(c)an offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (encouraging or assisting crime) in relation to that offence.
12Extent, commencement and short title
(2)An amendment of an Act made by this Act has the same extent as the provision to which it relates.
(3)The provisions of this Act, apart from this section, come into force—
(4)An order under subsection (3) is to be made by statutory instrument.
(6)This Act may be cited as the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
1The Administration of Justice Act 1970 is amended as follows.
2In section 41(8) (power of Crown Court to specify longer period of imprisonment for default under compensation order), after “paragraph 10” insert “or 13A”.
3In Schedule 9 (enforcement of orders for costs, compensation, etc), in Part 1 (payment enforceable as on summary conviction), after paragraph 13 insert—
“13AWhere under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 a court makes an unlawful profit order.”
4In section 1 of the Housing Act 1988 (meaning of assured tenancy), after subsection (1) insert—
“(1A)Subsection (1) has effect subject to section 15A (loss of assured tenancy status).”
5(1)Section 24 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (recovery of fines by deduction from certain benefits) is amended as follows.
(a)after “compensation order” insert “or unlawful profit order”, and
(b)in paragraph (a), for “or compensation” substitute “, compensation or unlawful profit”.
(3)In subsection (3)(b), after “compensation order” insert “or unlawful profit order”.
(4)In subsection (4), after the definition of “prescribed” insert “;
unlawful profit order” means an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.”
6In section 30(4)(b) of the Family Law Act 1996 (occupation by spouse or civil partner with home rights to be treated as occupation by other spouse or civil partner), for “and Chapter I of Part V of the Housing Act 1996” substitute “, Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Housing Act 1996 and the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013”.
8In section 12(7) (power to order absolute or conditional discharge not to affect power to make various orders), after “orders)” insert “or from making in respect of the offence an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.”
9In section 133(3)(c) (review of compensation order where person subject to confiscation order made in same proceedings), after “Proceeds of Crime Act 2002” insert “or an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (or both).”
10In section 142(1) (power of Crown Court to order defendant to be searched on imposing fine or making various orders), after paragraph (c) insert—
11The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is amended as follows.
12In section 6 (making of confiscation order), after subsection (6) insert—
“(6A)The court must also treat the duty in subsection (5) as a power if—
(b)it believes that a person has at any time started or intends to start proceedings against the defendant under section 5 (civil unlawful profit orders) of that Act in respect of such profit.”
13In section 7(3) (calculation of recoverable amount), after “section 6(6)” insert “or 6(6A)”.
14(1)Section 13 (effect of confiscation order on court’s other powers) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (3) (confiscation order to be taken into account before making certain orders), in paragraph (a) (orders other than compensation orders), after “(compensation orders)” insert “or an order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (unlawful profit orders)”.
(3)In subsection (5) (confiscation order and compensation order in same proceedings)—
“(a)the Crown Court makes—
against the same person in the same proceedings,”, and”
(b)in paragraph (b), after “both the orders” insert “or all the orders”.
(4)In subsection (6) (payment of compensation out of sums recovered under confiscation order), after “compensation” insert “or amount payable under the unlawful profit order (or both)”.
15In section 14(12) (quashing of confiscation order on ground of defect in connection with postponement permitted where certain fines and orders made before confiscation order), at the end of paragraph (c) insert “;
(d)made an order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (unlawful profit orders).”
16(1)Section 15 (effect of postponement of confiscation proceedings) is amended as follows.
17(1)Section 19 (reconsideration of case after confiscation order not made) is amended as follows.
(3)In subsection (8) (disapplication of section 13(5) and (6) where compensation order made), after “Sentencing Act” insert “or an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013”.
18(1)Section 20 (reconsideration of benefit after confiscation order not made) is amended as follows.
(3)In subsection (12) (disapplication of section 13(5) and (6) where compensation order made), after “Sentencing Act” insert “or an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013”.
19(1)Section 21 (reconsideration of benefit after confiscation order made) is amended as follows.
(3)In subsection (10) (court not to take account of compensation order if direction made under section 13(6)), after “(9)(c)” insert “or (d)”.
20In section 32(7) (Court of Appeal’s power on appeal: duty to have regard to compensation order), after “orders)” insert “or section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (unlawful profit orders)”.
21In section 33(9) (Crown Court’s powers following appeal to Supreme Court: duty to have regard to compensation order), after “orders)” insert “or section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (unlawful profit orders)”.
22In section 55(5) (application of sums received under confiscation order to pay compensation), after “compensation” insert “or all or part of an amount payable under an unlawful profit order”.
23In section 308 (general exceptions to concept of recoverable property), after subsection (7) insert—
24Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003 (collection of fines and other sums adjudged to be paid on conviction) is amended as follows.
25In paragraph 2(2) (interpretation), after the definition of “a sum required to be paid by a compensation order” insert “; and
a sum required to be paid by an unlawful profit order” means any sum required to be paid by an order made under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.”
26In paragraph 7A (attachment of earnings order or application for benefit deduction where person liable to pay compensation), in sub-paragraph (1), after “a compensation order” insert “or an unlawful profit order”.
27In paragraph 13(1)(aa) (requirement for collection order to state amount of fine or amount payable under collection order)—
(a)for “or a sum required to be paid by a compensation order” substitute “, a sum required to be paid by a compensation order or a sum required to be paid by an unlawful profit order”, and
“(i)the amount of the fine, the amount required to be paid by the compensation order or the amount required to be paid by the unlawful profit order (or, where that sum consists of or includes two or more of those amounts, each of those amounts),”.
28The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is amended as follows.
29In section 151 (community order or youth rehabilitation order for persistent offender previously fined), in subsection (5) (fine not to include compensation order, surcharge etc), after “section 161A” insert “, or an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013”.
30(1)Section 161A (court’s duty to order payment of surcharge) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (3) (reduction of surcharge where compensation order made)—
(a)in paragraph (a), after “compensation order” insert “or an unlawful profit order (or both)”, and
(b)in paragraph (b), after “appropriate compensation” insert “or both the surcharge and an appropriate amount under the unlawful profit order (or the surcharge, appropriate compensation and an appropriate amount under the unlawful profit order)”.
“(5)In this section “unlawful profit order” means an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.”
31In the section 270A of the Armed Forces Act 2006 inserted by paragraph 20(2) of Schedule 3 to the Armed Forces Act 2011 (exceptions to restrictions on community punishments), in subsection (6) (orders which do not form part of an offender’s sentence), at the end of paragraph (c) insert “;
(d)an unlawful profit order under section 4 of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.”