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

Police say some landlords are making up to £500,000 a month by providing accommodation for people such as care leavers and domestic abuse survivors, some who do not live there. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

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.