A series of investigations into housing fraud have culminated in a number of properties being recovered by Redbridge council. 

The crackdown has saved it £702,000 in the last 12 months, according to the authority 

To date, fraud estimated to cost in excess of £1.3m has been prevented and 850 housing cases have been referred for review. 

The council has recovered thirty nine properties, with Roding ward seeing the highest number of tenancy agreements being breached, after the were found to be illegally sub-let.

Seven homes under the Right to Buy scheme have been taken off the market after it was found the tenants were not living there and were sub-letting them. 

The investigations have also led to the discovery of almost £90,000 in benefit fraud and council tax evasion.