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   HebrideanHecate (hebrideanhecate@spinster.xyz)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jul-2026 21:55:54 JST HebrideanHecate

   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6211ng49zwo

   Local councils and Airbnb have begun sharing data to identify the illegal subletting of social homes on the short-term rental platform.

   The scheme, coordinated by the Cabinet Office's fraud team, external, allows councils to cross-check social housing records against Airbnb listings in an effort to tackle what the government calls "social housing fraud."

   It is suspected nearly 6,000 social homes in England are illegally sublet on short-term rental platforms, according to the Tenancy Fraud Forum, a not-for profit organisation.

   Early results suggest 470 cases of social housing fraud have been identified so far across participating local authorities, with offenders facing penalties including eviction, fines and up to two years in prison.

   However, some campaign groups say tackling illegal subletting will have "very little impact on the acute housing crisis."