Sisters lied about being victims of ‘honour-based’ violence to get council house
Two sisters falsely claimed they were the victims of ‘honour-based’ domestic violence in order to scam the council out of a three-bedroom house they never even lived in.
Hannah, 29, and Ayshia Rafiq, 30, told Kirklees Council their father beat them, they were homeless and desperately needed refuge despite having a place to stay with their mother in Huddersfield.
They have now made a grovelling public apology for ‘depriving a family in real need’ by their deception.
The siblings had faced a possible jail term after council bosses took them to court for lying during civil proceedings back in 2017.
Their scam began in 2013 when they applied to the council for a property, claiming their mother had asked them to move out.
Five months after that, having failed to get onto the council’s priority for housing list, they reapplied as homeless and the victims of honour-based violence at the hands of their father, and were allocated a three-bed property in Batley.
But neighbours and residents grew suspicious when the house stood empty and tipped off the council.
An investigation was launched and it was soon established the women were living with their mother at the family home.
When questioned about their use of the property, the sisters continued their deceit, lying to council officials at a five-day possession order hearing.
They made false statements in the witness box, prompting the council to launch contempt of court proceedings.
That case was due to be heard in the High Court in Leeds over four days beginning May 24 this year, at huge cost to the authority.
Now, the sisters have confessed to their deception and apologised, something that has been accepted by the court, bringing the legal action to an end.
In a statement they said: ‘Neither I nor my sister or brother lived at the house in Batley, and I accept that I should not have said that it was our only or principal home.
‘We remained during this time at the family home in Huddersfield which is owned by our mother.
‘I am very sorry for the damage caused by our actions in depriving a family in real need of accommodation by making unavailable, a three-bedroomed house for four years.’
Hannah Rafiq has already paid thousands of pounds in legal costs to the council. A future court hearing will decide whether the sisters should pay any further costs.
Naz Parkar, service director for Homes and Neighbourhoods at Kirklees Council, said: ‘Social Housing exists to meet a need in our communities to offer shelter to the most vulnerable and in need.
‘The deception of these sisters led to a property not being able to house a family in need for four years.
‘The Rafiq sisters admit deception and have learnt the consequences of their dishonesty and realise they were close to a prison sentence.
‘I would like to praise our investigative team who work tirelessly to ensure our houses are occupied by genuine claimants.
‘I would also like to thank the members of the public who brought their concerns to our attention.’
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