Hassana Kefas received a suspended prison sentence and fine for renting out her Barnet council flat when she had lived with her partner in Enfield since 2016

An office block, photographed from the ground looking up — Barnet Council’s Colindale offices (Credit – Barnet Council)

A Barnet tenant has been sentenced for illegally subletting her council flat while she lived in Enfield.

Hassana Kefas was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, alongside 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation activities at Willesden Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

She had lived with her partner in Enfield since 2016 while renting out her Barnet home and had collected £19,633 more in rent from her tenants than she paid in rent to the council.

She was ordered to pay an unlawful profit order of £5,000, as well as compensation and costs of £10,000 to the council.

Barnet Council said its figures indicated a loss to the council of £51,106 “due to the property being unavailable to those in need on the housing waiting list and having to stay in expensive temporary accommodation”.

Passing sentence, the judge District Judge Walsh told Kefas: “You profited from sub-letting as if it were your asset; you deprived LB Barnet and its honest residents in need of social housing – that is disgraceful. Your dishonesty was greedy and selfish.”

Ross Houston, Barnet Council’s cabinet member said: “Tenancy fraud is not a victimless crime. Every home that is illegally sublet is one fewer available for a family in genuine need, often forcing people into costly temporary accommodation.”

He added: “This case demonstrates that Barnet Council will take firm action against anyone who tries to profit at the expense of our residents. We will always protect our housing stock and ensure that council homes go to those who need them most.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.