Suspicions were raised following a Right to Buy application was made

Annette Belcher Digital Publishing Editor

19:00, 08 Jul 2025

The property is in the Playford Gardens area of Bristol

A Bristol resident has been given a suspended prison sentence after illegally subletting their allocated social housing. Stephen Makore, of Playford Gardens, pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to one offence of tenancy fraud after the council’s Counter Fraud and Investigation Team discovered he was unlawfully subletting his council property.

The investigation discovered that, between August 27, 2020 and May 31, 2023, Makore had ceased to occupy the property at Playford Gardens and had instead let the property to two other people, which is in direct contravention of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.

Tenancy conditions specified that Makore must occupy the council property as their only home and that they could not sublet the property, however, suspicions were raised following a Right to Buy application in 2021.

Further investigation by the council discovered that in July 2020, Makore was liable for council tax at an address in Newport and then at another address in Monmouth from August 2020. Bank statements also showed regular payments of ‘rent’ into Makore’s bank account.

Makore was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 140 hours of unpaid work on Thursday, July 3. The council also sought an Unlawful Profit Order, which will require Makore to repay £3,600, along with a statutory surcharge of £156.

Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, Cllr Barry Parsons, said: “The impact of social housing fraud affects all Bristol residents. With over 22,000 households currently on the waiting list for social housing, fraudulent behaviour such as this is a blatant abuse of the council housing system, taking vital homes off the market and depriving people of the support and security they desperately need.

“I hope this verdict acts as a stern reminder to anyone considering this course of action of our zero-tolerance approach to tenancy fraud.”

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