A HOUSING association with homes in Southend has welcomed tougher penalties for benefit fraud.

Guinness South backed Government plans for increased jail terms of up to ten years. Housing tenancy fraud cost social landlords nearly £1.8billion last year, according to the Audit Commission.

Daniel Helps, tenancy investigations manager at Guinness South, said: “Benefit fraud often goes hand-in-hand with housing tenancy fraud, which we take very seriously. I welcome tougher sentences and will continue to work with local authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions to tackle housing and benefit fraud where these offences are present in Guinness South properties.”