Q&A with Nicola Evans L&Q
Nikki Bowker
Partner | Devonshires
020 7880 4398
Nicola Evans
Tenancy Fraud Manager | L&Q
020 XXXX XXXX
Nicola Evans is a Tenancy Fraud Manager at L&Q, one of the largest not-for-profit housing associations in the UK, housing around 250,000 people in more than 105,000 homes. In 2024-2025, the tenancy fraud team at L&Q recovered [X] properties from fraudulent occupancy.
Background
Nikki Bowker of Devonshires recently sat down with Nicola Evans who kindly agreed to answer some questions around L&Q’s first tenancy fraud prosecution, following the conviction of former resident Mr Nosa Ogie, who was sentenced on 31 March 2025 to five concurrent two-year suspended sentences for attempting to purchase his L&Q-managed social home through fraudulent means. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,800 in legal costs. Nicola and her team are keen to share their experience of private prosecution, as well as their wider tenancy fraud work, for the benefit of the social housing sector and other housing associations.
The case
Mr Ogie had been illegally subletting the property for six years while submitting a false application through the Right to Acquire scheme. Additionally, he made a separate fraudulent attempt to buy a social home managed by Barking and Dagenham Council under the Right to Buy scheme. The case came to light in February 2023 when council officers processing a Right to Buy application flagged inconsistencies in Mr. Ogie’s records. Further inquiries revealed he was also a tenant of a one-bedroom property at Robert Lewis House, Barking, which is managed by L&Q. A joint investigation by the council and L&Q confirmed that Mr Ogie had applied to purchase the same home under the Right to Acquire scheme, without disclosing his existing tenancy. L&Q and Barking and Dagenham Council fraud officers launched a criminal investigation, which led to legal action.
Please read the full Q&A below and don't hesitate to get in touch for more information on the topics discussed.
Q1. Why did you decide to pursue the private prosecution against your former resident?
"The decision to pursue a private prosecution was due to multiple confirmed instances of fraud committed by the former resident, including violations involving the Right to Acquire (RTA), Right to Buy (RTB), and unauthorised subletting."
Q2. How did acting alongside Barking and Dagenham Council work in practice?
"Both housing providers conducted internal investigations into the concerns raised about the former resident and worked collaboratively to identify a series of serious discrepancies.
Following the service of formal Notices, the L&Q property was voluntarily returned. However, due to the weight of the evidence and the severity of the offences, the former resident was also interviewed under caution and questioned in relation to all identified breaches. Given the overlapping timelines, the extent of the fraudulent behaviour, and the joint evidence gathered, both providers agreed that prosecution was the appropriate and necessary course of action."
Q3. What do you see as being the greatest challenges to prosecuting tenancy fraud?
"The greatest challenges to prosecuting tenancy fraud include securing Local Authority agreement, managing the financial cost, and allocating sufficient internal resources. In many cases, even when strong evidence is present, gaining commitment from key stakeholders—particularly local authorities—can be difficult due to differing priorities or capacity constraints. Despite these challenges, addressing tenancy fraud is crucial to protecting social housing stock and ensuring fair access for those in genuine need."
Q4. Taking into account the challenges of private prosecutions for tenancy fraud, will L&Q consider such action in the future?
"Absolutely. Where the evidence and circumstances justify it, L&Q will continue to consider private prosecutions as a means of tackling tenancy fraud. Taking legal action ensures that individuals who abuse the system are held accountable, and it sends a strong message that fraud will not be tolerated—both within our organisation and across the wider social housing sector."
Q5. What themes are L&Q finding in relation to tenancy fraud at the moment?
"One of the emerging themes we’re seeing is the increasing use of short-term letting platforms such as Airbnb and others to unlawfully sublet social housing. Another is succession under false pretences, where individuals attempt to take over tenancies they are not legally entitled to. These issues not only reduce the availability of social housing for those in genuine need, but also place additional strain on resources. Tenancy fraud often leads to further problems such as anti-social behaviour, property damage, and increased complaints from neighbours. These consequences require significant time and intervention from housing officers, legal teams, and partner agencies, diverting resources away from supporting compliant residents and community development. Tackling fraud is therefore essential not just for fairness, but for maintaining safe, stable neighbourhoods."
Q6. What opportunities are there for housing providers in the sector to work together?
"There are significant opportunities for housing providers to collaborate more effectively in tackling tenancy fraud. Formal networks such as the G15, the London Boroughs Fraud Investigators Group (LBFIG), and the Tenancy Fraud Forum (TFF) provide valuable platforms for sharing intelligence, best practices, and coordinated action.
However, it’s equally important to build strong relationships with other providers outside of formal groups. These one-to-one partnerships often allow for quicker information sharing, joint investigations, and a more agile response to emerging issues. Collaboration—whether formal or informal—is vital for identifying cross-tenure fraud, recognising patterns that span organisations, and ultimately protecting social housing assets sector-wide."
Q7. What ambitions do L&Q have in respect of its counter-tenancy fraud activity?
"There is always scope to do more in the fight against tenancy fraud. The fraud landscape is constantly evolving, with new methods and emerging risks regularly challenging our defences. Protecting the gateway into social housing is critical. That’s why regular reviews of our detection and prevention efforts are essential — not just to react to fraud, but to stay ahead of it. Prevention must always remain a top priority."