Can you get into trouble with local authorities?
To try to cut it down, long story short my brother has an old landlord who’s trying to avoid paying debts and tax and has claimed my brother lived in the property until October 2025. This is a lie so my brother needs to prove he lived with me then to my sister where he’s been living for almost 3 years (our mum passed, dad in shared accommodation).
My sister’s fella had moved in with her and now she wants my brother out this week. There is no hard feelings. They came up with the idea to ask me to lie to authorities (Wigan council who is also my employer) to say he lives with me because I have a mortgage, and two children aged 3 and 11 months so he can claim he lives on the couch (baby has his own room) and that it’s hostile and that I want him out. My sister is in a council house, doesn’t have kids and has enough bedrooms. My brother hasn’t saved all these years because he’s terrible for managing his wage, getting loans and helping a friend out he claims would starve to death otherwise.
I’m terrified with him needing to prove where he’s been living to not be in debt and wanting out of my sisters, it’ll be discovered we’re lying and I’ll go to prison. I’ve had HV and midwives so if they investigate, they’d discover it’s not true. I told my brother I can’t risk it if it means going to prison or a criminal record for my kids sake. Am I being silly or can that actually happen? I’m based in UK
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Not worth the risk, you could be caught and it would be considered fraud. Also, morally, there are so many people in the UK in chronic housing situations (overcrowding etc) who are desperate for extra rooms, so to have a council house with extra rooms not utilised and to then try and play the system for extra gain because of individual irresponsibility… it doesn’t sit right with me.
At the least it would be fraudulent, which is a punishable offence by fines and prison time depending on severity. Your sister sounds like she needs to give her head a wobble to be honest, already in a house bigger than she needs...
Why can't your sister confirm that he lived with her ?
It doesn't make sense to prove the landlord is lying but coming up with a lie...
Accidentally pressed do it and won’t let me undo it . Do not do it!
If your sister got given the house because he was living with her she should continue letting him live with her until he finds suitable arrangements? Can’t he just say she’s being hostile and wants him out if that’s actually the truth? X
Obviously you don’t feel comfortable lying so you shouldn’t. Listen to yourself, not your sister.
Don't lie, it gets messy.
If this is your employer too, you’d be absolutely insane to lie given what you are putting at risk.
1. Losing your job
2. The bad reference you’d get about lying would more than likely follow you around and prevent you from getting a job in future - so hello long term unemployment
3. Getting a large fine once found guilty
4. More than likely receive a police caution, therefore this record will remain on your files and prevent you from travelling to certain countries and also would have to be declared on any DBS applications
Stay out of it. Let your brother/sister sort it out amongst themselves. Don’t get involved.
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