Councillor Peter Golds
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
5 Clove Crescent
Mulberry Place
London
E14 2BG
Ms Sandra Fawcett
Housing Director, London
Swan Housing association
Cygnet House South
10 Chrisp Street
London
E14 6LL
January 24th 2012
Dear Ms Fawcett
Re: Shelina Akhtar, 112 Blackwall Way, London, E14 aka Shelina Aktar, 37 Toynbee Street, London, E1
I am writing regarding the above, who has now been convicted for the second time for benefit fraud. It has also been revealed that she was illegally renting the property that Swan Housing owns and manages for £1,000 per month, whilst actually residing in Toynbee Street under a variation of her name.
I wrote to you in June 2011 with regard to this matter and received a response which I found extraordinary. You wrote “as you do not have Shelina Akhtar’s consent to act on her behalf on the points you raise relate to another council member we are unable to comment on the details of the particular tenancy you mention”.
As you may be aware there are 23,000 families on the housing waiting list within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. One of the properties that you own and manage has been illegally sublet by a twice convicted benefit fraudster. Many of those 23,000 would welcome that flat and they, like me are horrified at this happening and being allowed to continue.
Shelina Akhtar of Blackwall Way is the same Shelina Aktar of 37 Toynbee Street. She currently appears to occupy two properties. In one case receiving a councillor’s allowance and in the other being convicted for fraud, whilst varying the name to, hopefully, prevent discovery.
In your previous letter you wrote “demand for housing in Tower Hamlets is very high”. I know this as do most others. I equally know that this demand is exacerbated when a fraudster gets away with sub letting a property. Indeed, reading the responses to numerous enquiries I have raised on behalf of residents, there are serious questions to be raised as to how she as a single 32 year old with plenty of available accommodation at 37 Toynbee Street, was allocated this property in the first place.
Swan Housing is a Registered Social Landlord and receives massive sums of money from public sources. It is a legitimate question to raise as an elected representative as to what Swan Housing is doing to reclaim this property from this fraudster and ensure that it is made available to a deserving resident.
I look forward to your response to this letter.
Yours sincerely
Councillor Peter Golds
Blackwall and Cubitt Town Ward