A couple accused of lying in order to gain a council house in Stevenage have been evicted.

The couple allegedly gave Stevenage Borough Council false information to gain the three-bed house in Walden End, Bedwell, and were forced to return the keys on October 9.

Ann Webb is responsible for housing at the council and said: “Working closely with our tenancy fraud shared service is paying dividends. This is the second case we have had in recent weeks where tenants have handed back their keys following an investigation for fraud.

“This means these properties can be allocated to families on the housing register. I would encourage local people to continue to confidentially report suspected tenancy fraud. We will take action.”

The couple were evicted after an investigation by the borough council and Shared Anti-Fraud Service and are now living in private rented accommodation with their two children.

They have since been charged with breaching their tenancy and will appear before Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 13.

The eviction is part of the council’s combined efforts with the anti-fraud service to tackle tenancy fraud.

Earlier this month it evicted a person from a one-bedroom property in Symonds Green after they were found to be subletting it out. They were not prosecuted.

To report suspected fraud email tenancyfraud@stevenage.gov.uk or visit the council’s Customer Service Centre in Danestrete.