Law student convicted of illegally subletting council flat

A law student has been convicted of fraud for illegally subletting a council flat in London while she was studying in Bristol.

Kusheema Nurse did not tell Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) that she had moved out of her flat to study law at the University of the West of England.

BHP, the arm’s-length management organisation of the London Borough of Brent, had given her a flat in August 2010 two months after she secretly started a part time job in Bristol.

In June 2014 Ms Nurse's sub-tenant complained to BHP about being evicted without notice and said he had rented the flat since April 2011.

A council fraud team found that a woman had been rescued from the flat by firefighters in February 2014 after a small fire broke out.

The woman was a friend of the subtenant and did not know Ms Nurse, who failed to report the fire to BHP.

Ms Nurse was prosecuted at Harrow Crown Court for offences under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 and the Fraud Act 2006.

She claimed in court that she travelled to Bristol on a daily basis and continued to live full time at her flat.

The jury found her guilty, and she was sentenced to 130 hours of community service, adjourned for three months to allow for her final university exams.

Harbi Farah, lead member for housing, said: “Subletting social housing isn't just selfish - it's illegal. It clogs up desperately needed accommodation while lining the pockets of people who falsely claim to be in need.”

Mark Smulian