London council seizes social housing flat rented by Sierra Leone first lady
Fatima Jabbe-Bio kept tenancy in Southwark despite living for much of year at presidential lodge in Freetown
TL;DR
- Southwark council has seized a social housing flat in Walworth previously rented by Fatima Jabbe-Bio, the first lady of Sierra Leone.
- The flat had been under investigation for 12 months by the council's housing investigations team.
- Housing rules typically require council properties to be the tenant's principal residence.
- Jabbe-Bio, whose children are British citizens, stated she paid for the flat herself and committed no crime.
- The recovered property will be reallocated to a family on the council's waiting list.
- The case occurs amidst significant pressure on social housing in London.
- Southwark council has recovered 107 properties over the past two years due to tenancy fraud and contravened agreements.