A tenant who illegally advertised his council house on Gumtree has received a suspended sentence.

Steven Gregory, of Booth Road, Colindale, rented out the house in Bell Lane, Hendon, using the sellers’ site – even though it was owned by Barnet Homes and he was a tenant.

The 33-year-old has been sentenced to eight week suspended for one year and has been asked to pay £100 towards the council’s costs, and an £80 victim surcharge.

He was given the keys to the one-bedroom flat in April this year, but within weeks had sublet it for £600 a month.

Gregory took a deposit and the remainder of the first month’s rent and had the tenant sign an agreement, which he downloaded from the internet.

an investigation carried out by Barnet Borough Council’s corporate anti-fraud team revealed he also continued to fraudulently claim housing benefit by stating that he was living at the address.

Councillor Richard Cornelius, leader of Barnet Council, said: “Council housing is there for people in genuine need so it’s totally unacceptable that someone should attempt to profit from a council property and effectively prevent it going to somebody who really needs it.

“I would urge anyone with information about housing fraud to get in touch.”