A COUNCIL tenant has been evicted and ordered to pay £7,000 after keeping a second tenancy secret – at the other end of the country.

Janice Gale, 63, of Avon Way, Shoebury, was evicted after Southend County Court found on Tuesday she had not declared her tenancy with Pennine Housing 2000 – based in Calderdale, West Yorkshire - when applying for a house with South Essex Homes in 2003.

She had lived in her Pennine Housing 2000 home since 1990 and South Essex Homes first became suspicious when they were unable to contact her at Avon Way or gain entry to the property.

She revealed in court she did not consider it relevant to declare her existing tenancydespite the fact this would have barred her from being awarded a property with South Essex Homes.

However, the court found her in breach of the Housing Act and ordered her to return the keys to the council within 28 days and pay 70 per cent of court costs, estimated to be about £7,000.

South Essex Homes’ East group manager Traci Dixon said: “By securing accommodation through withholding information on the housing application, the resident had a detrimental effect on others as it deprived those who were in genuine need of priority housing.

“In this particular case the accommodation was for those aged 50 and above in a well sought after area.

“Both South Essex Homes and Southend Council officers did a sterling job in providing evidence which played a major role in the success of this case.

“I would like to thank them for their commitment and hard work.

“We are pleased about this result and hope it sends out a positive message to our tenants that breaches of tenancy no matter how long ago they were committed will not be tolerated and you can lose your tenancy if you are caught.”

Southend Council leader Ron Woodley added: “This is a very serious matter, as it meant that those in urgent need of housing were denied the chance to live in this property.

“As this case demonstrates, we will take action if we find that people have dishonestly obtained – or tried to obtain – a council tenancy.

“If you know someone who has purposely withheld information or told the council lies in order to gain a Council tenancy you can report this to the counter Fraud Team.”

The Fraud Team can be contacted by emailing counterfraud@southend.gov.uk or calling 01702 215254.

An anonymous message may also be left at 01702 215215 and all information is treated in the strictest confidence.