A WOMAN who tried to claim a council house in Barnet despite owning her own home in Wood Green has been found guilty of fraud.
Davina Gopala, 32, falsely claimed she and her young daughter were homeless in order to convince Barnet Council to give her a council home.
Gopala told officers from Barnet Homes, a private company that manages the council’s housing stock, she was living with her mother in an overcrowded property.
However, background checks with the Land Registry revealed that Gopala owned a flat in Wood Green.
In her application she had claimed to have rented the property in the past.
Appearing at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Gopala pleaded guilty to fraud and was handed a 12-month community punishment order to undertake 50 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £800 legal costs.
This is the first time someone has been prosecuted for falsely declaring themselves homeless in Barnet.
Barnet Council leader Richard Cornelius, said: “This prosecution is an important result and sends out a serious message about making sure properties are freed up for people in genuine housing need.
“Whilst we do not want to deprive anyone in genuine housing need, we will be carrying out careful checks to make sure people are who they say they are.”
