Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and business process services and Experian, the global information services company, announce their partnership combining data, insight, analytics and systems to reduce the cost and scale of social housing fraud in the UK.

Civica and Experian’s Tenancy Verification Service uses data matching and risk profiling to identify high certainties of social housing fraud which can then be followed up and investigated. Experian’s data assets and analytics combined with Civica’s systems and processes will help make serious inroads into the estimated 50,000 council homes illegally sub-let or occupied in the UK. The partnership will help significantly reduce the problem of tenancy fraud which costs taxpayers an estimated £5 billion a year and places an unnecessary burden on social housing supply.

John Hood, managing director of Civica’s Housing & Asset Management division, comments, “We are pleased to partner with Experian, with its wealth of knowledge and experience in working with the public sector, to help our customers reduce housing fraud through the intelligent use of data. Housing providers face a massive challenge of improving core services while cutting operating costs, Civica’s Tenancy Verification Service will provide a solution to target resources to effectively combat housing fraud ensuring social housing is provided for those with genuine need.”

Nick Mothershaw, director of Identity and Fraud at Experian added:

“The partnership means our combined reach and unique offering will accelerate the success and returns we have already demonstrated with a number of councils and social housing providers. Experian’s data and analytics has already identified many instances of social housing fraud, including where tenancies are in names that are deceased, sub-let illegally or where tenants are advertising their properties for rent. By combining resources with Civica we can tackle this problem more widely, quickly and efficiently.”