I have reiceved a nasty call from the fraud inspector from the LA
I want to know if we are obliged to provide Glasgow CC a tenant's rent statement (fraud investigation case) without the person knowing.

The benefit inspector has been on asking me if I can provide him with the housing officer's statement and the rent info.
What should i do?

If you dont want to disclose it or think that it is not in your tenant's interest then just tell him to b****r off!

so by law we don't have to provide this information. The tenant is in his 80's!! I am thinking we should act in his best interest rather than what the Benefit fraud team want!
thanks
I wasn't sure about the repurcusion of this.

I suggest you have a look at teh SSAA 1992 sections 109-111: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/docs/lawvols/bluevol/pdf/a1_1801.pdf

Must admit I'm not much of an expert on this but those sections give the power to authorised officers to request information when investigating cases of fraud. Failure to comply is a criminal offence. HOWEVER on a brief reading, I'm not sure that landlords are covered by this. Perhaps one of our resident Rightsnet fraud officers will be able to clarify.

You can also have a look at the DWPs code of practice on obtaining information:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2002/cop/cop-ssfa.pdf

The authority can request information and it may be an offence not to supply it under section 113 of the Administration Act but the LA must follow proper procedure, namely that the request for information must be in writing stating that there is suspected impropriety or there is an ongoing investigation where there has been an allegation if suspected impropriety.

They must follow this procedure and cannot just make threatening phone calls.

thanks everyone much appriected! no i haven't received a letter requesting this information but a rather demanding phone call which put me off!

Hi,sorry, just come to this !

Yeah, you do have to provide the information, but as mentioned we have to request it properly in writing from you - if its not done like that then don't supply it, a phone call really is not good enough.
I usually ring first though and talk to somebody saying I need the information and will be requesting it in writing - is this what the fraud team may have done ?

Hope this helps.........

Don't know i haven't heard from them yet.....