The £4.5bn Building Safety Fund was launched in 2020 to protect leaseholders from the cost of cladding removal in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy after tens of thousands received bills, in some cases for up to £100,000. However, the National Audit Office said the decision to prioritise speed in providing money had increased the risk of fraud.
The NAO report revealed that last autumn the fund was subject to a potential fraud in which £500,000 was paid to a suspected scammer, using a mechanism in which 80% of funding could be paid upfront. After the potential fraud was identified, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) commissioned an independent review of the case, which found problems with its processes.
This included a reliance on self-certification, which limited MHCLG's ability to verify details. The review also said the 80% advanced payment structure "increased the opportunity and motivation for fraud".
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Denne historien er fra November 04, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Lopetegui's job on the line if West Ham lose to Everton
West Ham will review Julen Lopetegui's position if they lose at home to Everton on Saturday.
Ancelotti rallies Madrid as limp defeats rattle fans
Milan loss serves as a sharp wake-up call for listless team, with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé struggling
Calhanoglu spot-on as Arsenal fall to handball
Mikel Arteta's problems keep on mounting. In the week that they were rocked by the surprise resignation of sporting director Edu, Arsenal surrendered their unbeaten record in the Champions League after Hakan Calhanoglu kept up his record of never having missed a penalty for Inter to score the only goal of a tightly contested game.
Mings hands Brugge win as bizarre penalty proves costly for Villa
There was hardly a murmur as Emiliano Martinez took a short goal-kick five minutes into the second half and then, a few seconds later, huge cheers from those decked out in Club Brugge blue and black as the ramifications of Tyrone Mings's brain freeze dawned on them.
Liverpool ace tricky early tests under Slot
After demolishing an excellent Leverkusen side, Reds look like the real deal domestically and in Europe
Onana insists United will 'step up' for arrival of Amorim
André Onana has backed his Manchester United teammates to \"step up\" and adapt to Rúben Amorim's style after watching Sporting defeat Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League.
Manchester City told to pay most of £11m wages owed to Mendy
Manchester City must pay their former defender Benjamin Mendy the majority of £11m in wages deducted from his pay packet when he was on rape and sexual assault charges, of which he was later acquitted, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Is this really all about Rodri? The reasons behind City's slump
Injuries have played a part in a run of three straight defeats for Guardiola's side but so have some surprising tactics
'You don't want people to think you are arrogant'
Rassie Erasmus believes his South Africa side are too often tarred as villains of the piece and deserve more love
Khelif to take legal action over leaks
Imane Khelif, the boxer who won Olympic gold amid a gender eligibility row, is taking legal action over media reports allegedly detailing her leaked medical records, the International Olympic Committee has said.
