A Luton landlord has been given a 12 month Conditional Discharge after being convicted of a benefit fraud offence.

Alan Brown, aged 66, of 17 Runley Road, Luton, appeared at Luton Crown Court recently and pleaded guilty of a charge of failing to notify a change in circumstances to Luton Council.

Brown was renting to a benefit claimant while receiving benefit payments into his bank account. When the claimant moved out of the property, Brown continued to accept the payments and failed to report the change in circumstances to the Council.

Brown had a duty to report the changes and by not doing so he fraudulently received payments totalling £2,450.

Brown was given his sentence by Judge Bevan QC, Brown who also ordered him to pay £150 in costs and to repay the £2,450 to the Council.

Cllr Robin Harris, portfolio holder for Finance, said: “Anyone receiving benefits, including landlords receiving money directly into their bank account, must tell the Council about any change in their circumstances unless they want to risk a criminal record, fine, court costs, community service and possibly prison.

“Benefits fraud is effectively stealing money from you and me and it’s wrong.”

In another similar case, a Wiltshire landlord has been prosecuted for keeping quiet when his tenant moved out so that the local council overpaid rent of £2,484.96.

Anthony Knowles, aged 47, of Queens Crescent, Chippenham, admitted that his tenant had left his property in James Close, Chippenham in July 2008 but still took the direct payments from the council until January 2009.

He now has to repay the overpaid amount, plus pay a £300 fine, £300 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The overpayments to Knowles were uncovered through data matching by the council which revealed his former tenant was living at another address.