Manchester News For February 18th

Fraudster who cost the Council more than £170,000 through illegal subletting handed suspended sentence 

A man has been jailed for 23 months, suspended for two years after he illegally sublet numerous properties set aside to support people who have been homeless, or in genuine need of housing. 

Bernard Nii Allotey Hoffman, 55, of Sandywell Street, Manchester, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday February 17, after pleading guilty to a string of fraud charges. 

It was proved that between 2003 and 2018

he illegally obtained and rented out properties, costing the Council in excess of £170,000. 

This money was spent finding alternative accommodation for homeless families as the Council was prevented from renting out the homes Hoffman was illegally subletting. 

This case first came to the attention of Manchester City Council on January 22, 2018, when Greater Manchester Police attended a disturbance at a property in Hartington Street, between Hoffman and an individual he had been letting the property to. 

This raised the suspicions of Jigsaw Homes Group whose Neighbourhood Safety Team investigated, obtaining statements from the sub-tenants. This evidence was then passed to the Council’s Counter Fraud team for a full investigation. 

It became clear that Hoffman had been illegally subletting this property for years, profiting off that enterprise. 

Records showed that Hoffman took up the tenancy of Hartington Street on June 23, 2003, subject to a tenancy agreement that prevented the property from being sublet. 

He also took the tenancy of a property managed by Mosscare St. Vincents Housing Trust in Barleycroft Street on June 24, 2003. However, he vacated this property to illegally sublet it to his partner, as well as other individuals. 

Hoffman also held tenancies at Trowtree Avenue in 2001, Sandywell Street in 2010,  and Rostron Avenue in 2011. 

Over the course of the Council’s investigation, it was found that Hoffman used his brother’s identity to fraudulently apply to live at the properties in Trowtree Avenue and Rostron Avenue. 

During times throughout this period of criminality Hoffman was in possession of three tenancies at once. 

Throughout this period the loss to the Council in rent was £173,385.73. 

Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Nicholls ordered Hoffman to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in addition to his suspended sentence. 

He was also ordered to pay an unlawful profit order of £8,813.04 and a victim surcharge. 

 

Councillor Suzanne Richards, Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “Though the dedication of our Counter Fraud Team and our legal representatives this fraudster is finally facing the consequences of their actions. This was an insidious crime, effectively taking houses away from the people who need them most. 

“Affordable housing in Manchester is in high demand which is why every effort is taken to make sure the right person is found the right home. By chopping and changing tenancies and even going so far as to impersonate someone else, Hoffman has only thought to exploit the system, at the expense of more deserving people. 

“As a Council our priority is to make sure that Manchester is a place where everyone has access to a safe, secure and affordable home. We will not allow fraudsters to jeopardise this goal.” 

 

Kate Sullivan, Neighbourhood Safety Manager at Jigsaw Homes added: “We have worked closely with the Counter Fraud Team at Manchester City Council and it is testament to the hard work of everyone involved to secure this conviction. We take a zero-tolerance approach to tenancy fraud and we are pleased that this property is now occupied by someone in genuine housing need.” 

Homeless help – scheme providing Covid-19 vaccinations hailed a success

A pilot scheme vaccinating people who are homeless in Manchester against Covid-19 is set to expand after the success of its first phase.

Urban Village Medical Practice based in Ancoats, which is already contracted by Manchester Health and Care Commissioning to deliver healthcare to those experiencing homelessness, has been working with Manchester City Council to give the Covid-19 jab to people who have been placed in council accommodation.

The first few sessions saw 81 people who are homeless receive the vaccination. This has now been extended to everyone in temporary accommodation and day centres to ensure that anyone who has not taken up accommodation can also get a jab. Where there is no suitable space in premises to give the vaccine, Urban Village’s clinical van will be used. 

Vaccinations have also been given by other practices including Cornbrook Medical Centre, Hulme, who offered the jab at Cornerstones day centre this week and Florence House GPs in Openshaw who have vaccinated people who are in temporary accommodation.

This now means that well more than 100 people have been vaccinated by mid-February, with plans to increase this number significantly over the next month.

People who are homeless have a lower than average life expectancy as a result of their experiences. Many have health ages well in excess of their real age and other medical conditions.

Emma Hicklin, homeless service manager for Urban Village Medical Practice, said: “We always say that people who are homeless are effectively clinically extremely vulnerable and it’s important that they are part of this vaccine roll-out.

“It’s a moral imperative to do it if you can. The uptake has been good so far, but you must go to where people are. The people we’re working with are saying the same as you hear from the general public, that if it helps us all get out of lockdown it’s well worth having the vaccination.”

Councillor Bev Craig, Executive Member for adult health and wellbeing for Manchester City Council, said: "The vaccine roll-out is providing protection to those who need it the most and to the community. So far we’ve seen nearly 100,000 Mancunians receive the vaccine. 

“From the beginning of the programme we have wanted to make sure the vaccine reaches the most vulnerable and no one is forgotten or left behind. Inclusive health is an integral part of our citywide vaccination programme, building on existing trusted relationships that we can use as we expand the opportunity to be vaccinated to everyone who is currently homeless in the city."

Councillor Luthfur Rahman, lead member for homelessness for Manchester City Council, said: “It’s essential that people who are homeless are afforded the same care as the wider population, especially when many are so vulnerable or in circumstances which make it hard to socially distance.

“I commend the work which Urban Village are doing with the council’s support, as well as that which some other GP practices connected to homelessness charities have done in the city.”