FRAUD MANAGEMENT POLICY

PREAMBLE
Homeswest has specific eligibility criteria in order that applicants may qualify for public rental housing, the associated rent to income subsidy and the Housing Access Loan. The department has a statutory obligation to ensure that recipients are eligible for assistance and remain eligible. Some criteria are set by the Federal Government through the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement and some are set by Homeswest. Both criteria may change from time to time.
To be eligible for all types of assistance an applicant must be eligible according to criteria relating to income, assets and property ownership, age, citizenship, residency status and be able to prove their identity to Homeswest’s satisfaction.
Should Homeswest discover that an applicant or tenant has deliberately misled the department as to their eligibility for assistance, Homeswest will take action.
One of Homeswest’s eligibility criteria is that applicants and tenants must not own property or land. This is due to the fact that it is considered that any person who owns property or land should use this asset to house themselves and not utilise a unit of public housing or loan funds. However, the most common instance of fraud that occurs for Homeswest is the discovery that an applicant or tenant is the owner of property or land.
Homeswest views this deception seriously and any tenant or applicant for public rental housing who gives false information as to property ownership or who acquires property since their application or tenancy will have their tenancy or application reviewed and the appropriate action taken. However, it must be noted that some applicants and tenants are given permission by Homeswest to retain property or land for a short period an in extenuating circumstances, in order to have time to sell.
Homeswest will undertake a check through the Department of Land Administration (DOLA) data base of any applicant or tenant of whom suspicions exist as to the ownership of property. As well, Homeswest will undertake ‘spot’ audits of a sample group of applicants and tenants through the DOLA data base, on a quarterly basis.
In all instances of fraud Homeswest reserves the right to take civil or criminal action.
See also TENANT ELIGIBILITY POLICY (Tenancy Management).
POLICY

GUIDELINES & PRACTICES
Applicants for Public Rental Housing
1. Applicants must answer all questions relating to their eligibility for assistance, truthfully and to the best of their knowledge and provide all necessary documentation required by Homeswest to prove their eligibility.
1.1 In cases where false/misleading information is detected, the determining factor will be whether the customer answered truthfully and to the best of their knowledge.


POLICY

GUIDELINES & PRACTICES
2. Before an allocation has been made, any applicant who has provided false or misleading information to Homeswest will have their application withdrawn and will have to reapply for further assistance and undergo a further eligibility check.
3. After an allocation has been made, Homeswest will consider any false or misleading information provided during the application and allocation process, as a breach of tenancy.
3.1 The current Homeswest tenancy agreement (introduced in 1996), contains a clause (1.2), which states
Upon application to Homeswest for housing assistance, the tenant must answer all questions truthfully and disclose all income and assets.
Rent to Income Subsidy
4. On allocation, applicants must complete the application for a rent to income subsidy truthfully and to the best of their knowledge and supply the relevant documentation provided by Homeswest. Homeswest will consider any false or misleading information provided as a breach of tenancy.
4.1 See 1.1
5. The tenant’s income will be reviewed annually to determine continuing eligibility for a rent to income subsidy and the tenant must answer all questions truthfully and to the best of their knowledge and provide documentation required by Homeswest. Homeswest will consider any false or misleading information provided as a breach of tenancy.
5.1 The current Homeswest tenancy agreement (introduced in 1996) contains a clause (1.3)
Upon annual review of the tenant’s income by Homeswest for the purpose of determining eligibility for assistance, the tenant must answer all questions truthfully and disclose any increase in income, or existence of additional assets.
Tenants who have signed the pre 1996 tenancy agreement
6. Tenants will be required to pay an Individual Property Market Rent for the property. Tenants who already pay market rent will be required to pay the current private market rent for the property.
6.1 See 1.1
6.2 Both will be backdated to the date of purchase of the property.
6.3 Homeswest will give 60 days notice of increase in rent, as required by the R.T.A.
6.4 See also TENANT ELIGIBILITY POLICY 36 to 36.2
7 All tenants, regardless of occupation date, will be surveyed annually to establish their continuing eligibility.


POLICY

GUIDELINES & PRACTICES
Housing Assistance Loan (HAL)
8. The HAL is a non interest bearing loan to applicants by Homeswest for the purpose of payment of a rental bond to acquire private rental accommodation and if any false or misleading information is provided with the application the loan will be recalled immediately and criminal charges may be instigated.