Property agents and housing providers are facing allegations of exploiting vulnerable tenants and the benefits system, following a major BBC Panorama investigation broadcast last night. The programme exposed evidence of alleged profiteering, inadequate tenant support, and suspected benefit fraud.
Investigators reportedly uncovered attempts to claim housing benefit for individuals who did not live in the properties concerned. In Birmingham alone, the Department for Work and Pensions paid £410 million towards supported exempt accommodation (SEA) in the last financial year, housing over 34,000 vulnerable people.
The investigation also examined companies, including Second City Support Ltd and Second City Housing Properties. Land Registry records showed one property was bought for £191,000 in 2024 and sold for £410,000 a year later, with the owner stating approximately £150,000 was spent on renovations.
Panorama also identified advertisements seeking "ghost tenants" whose details could support benefit claims without them occupying the properties. Labour MP Jess Phillips described this practice as fraud and called for criminal penalties.
The Regulator of Social Housing has announced action to close Concept Housing Association due to serious governance failings. According to the investigation, five of Birmingham's six largest SEA providers had failed to meet the regulator's standards.