An East Devon resident has repaid more than £25,000 in fraudulently claimed Council Tax Reduction, plus a £1,000 penalty, after failing to report an additional person living in their home for over a decade.
The case, one of the largest of its kind resolved by East Devon District Council (EDDC) in recent years, centred on an undeclared change in household circumstances that made the resident ineligible for the discount they had been receiving.
The resident avoided prosecution due to their cooperation and willingness to repay the full amount. EDDC issued a financial penalty instead.
The case is part of a broader enforcement effort: in 2025/26, the council received 112 fraud allegations and recovered around £220,000, with approximately £180,000 relating to Council Tax reductions and discounts.
Cllr Sam Hawkins, EDDC’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, said: ‘The council takes its responsibility to safeguard public money extremely seriously. I’d like to thank the Fraud & Compliance, Benefits, Council Tax Recovery, and Legal teams, whose co-operation led to this successful outcome, ensuring financial support is awarded fairly.’
