Tenancy fraud occurs when a person or organisation provides false information or misuses a property rented from a landlord, often a public housing authority or private landlord, in breach of the tenancy agreement. This type of fraud can take various forms, including subletting a property without permission, misrepresenting personal circumstances to gain access to housing, or providing false details on housing applications. It may also involve someone deliberately claiming housing benefits they are not entitled to, such as by hiding income or falsely claiming to live alone. Such fraudulent activities undermine the integrity of housing systems, depriving those in genuine need of accommodation and potentially causing financial and social harm. It is illegal and punishable by law.