Rogue UK landlords using ‘ghost tenants’ to con taxpayers out of millions

Gangs among those buying up cheap houses and claiming housing benefit for vulnerable people who do not live there, police say

Rogue landlords are conning the government out of millions of pounds by fraudulently claiming housing benefits for so-called “ghost tenants”, it has been revealed.

Criminal gangs are among those buying cheap property to convert into housing for vulnerable people, in some cases claiming welfare payments for tenants who do not live there.