A NORTHOLT man was jailed for dishonestly claiming thousands of pounds for housing, council tax benefit and housing benefit to Ealing Council.

Ijaz Qayum, 48, of Taywood Road, was sentenced to a total of 15 months at Isleworth Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to six offences.

The successful prosecution was brought by the borough’s audit and investigation service, working closely with housing officers.

They found that, in 2007, Qayum and his wife, Saiqa Khan, 42, who was also charged, had secured a council home in Hanwell after a joint homeless application. At the time, they had just bought a property in Northolt on the open market.

They also made fraudulent claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit, which are both means tested between 2006 and 2012.

During this time, they were renting out the property they owned but failed to declare any change in circumstances.

The couple were found to have obtained the council tenancy by deception, making rental savings of nearly £61,000 where rent was subsidised and significantly lower than private sector charges in the area.

It all resulted in them being overpaid more than £11,000 in housing and council tax benefits.

A notice seeking possession for the council home was issued to the couple before it was surrendered in 2013.

The total value of the fraudulent gain attributed to Qayum over the six-year period was nearly £69,000.

The council has already started proceedings to recover the overpaid amounts.

Anyone with information about suspected benefit fraud should call anonymously via the council’s 24-hour fraud hotline on 0800 328 6453 (free from landlines) or email fraudreferrals@ealing.gov.uk