A pair who retained ownership of a council property while purchasing a five-bedroom house in South London is facing a bill of £22,500. Uchenna and Nkeiruka Nzekwe were given a three-bedroom council house in Fir Trees Close, SE16, in June 2021 just weeks after buying a house in Croydon, where they continued to reside.
Following a tip-off that no children had lived at the council address, Southwark Council’s Housing Investigation Team initiated an inquiry in October 2022. It was revealed that extended family members, not the Nzekwes themselves, were utilizing the council property.
During questioning in February 2024, Mr. Nzekwe disclosed that his family occupied both residences but argued that the Croydon house was being held “in trust” for his daughter and therefore did not require declaration.
Despite their pledge to contest the claim, the couple failed to formally defend themselves, leading the court to prevent them from doing so. On October 1, Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court granted Southwark Council possession of the Fir Trees Close property.
The Nzekwes were instructed to vacate within 14 days or face eviction by court bailiffs. Additionally, they were mandated to pay over £6,000 in occupation charges and £16,500 towards the council’s legal expenses.
Councillor Michael Situ, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Housing, emphasized the impact of tenancy fraud on those in genuine need of council housing. He stressed that individuals engaging in tenancy fraud risk losing their council homes, facing legal repercussions, costs, and fines.
Residents were encouraged to report suspected tenancy fraud anonymously to safeguard council housing for those in need. Southwark Council reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on fraud, with the Housing Investigation Team having uncovered over £1.5 million in tenancy fraud since April 2025.