Local councils and Airbnb have begun sharing data to identify the illegal subletting of social homes on the short-term rental platform - because nothing says 'home sweet home' like a lockbox and a revolving door of strangers with suitcases.

The scheme, coordinated by the Cabinet Office's fraud team, allows councils to cross-check social housing records against Airbnb listings in an effort to tackle what the government calls 'social housing fraud.' Early results suggest 470 cases have been identified so far across participating local authorities, with offenders facing penalties including eviction, fines, and up to two years in prison. The Tenancy Fraud Forum suspects nearly 6,000 social homes in England are illegally sublet on short-term rental platforms - so the 470 is probably just the appetizer.

Fraudsters could include people who have more than one home or are living abroad, which seems like a surprising amount of effort for someone who already has a home. The government estimates each case costs taxpayers around £78,300, covering temporary accommodation for genuine applicants, legal costs, and rent lost during the void period. That's a lot of money for a problem that some campaign groups say will have 'very little impact on the acute housing crisis.'

Geraldine Geraldi, a leaseholder in a King's Cross block, describes the telltale signs: 'Recently there's been lots of people coming and going with suitcases. They're not residents of the building.' She notes lockboxes keep appearing and being relocated - 'It's really obvious someone's trying to avoid detection.' The constant turnover has led to damaged carpets, doors, and entrances, with 'groups of six or eight people stay in a one-bedroom flat' while residents pay service charges to repair the damage.

David Harvey from Westminster City Council believes about 3,000 of the borough's 13,000 Airbnb listings are illegally sublet social homes, adding that housing officers have to 'play detectives' by searching for lock boxes and speaking to neighbours. Westminster has 7,500 households on its waiting list for social housing, so freeing up those listings could make a dent.

Airbnb's Lisa Marçais said 'social housing fraud' had 'no place on Airbnb' and expressed pride in the data-sharing agreement, while urging the rest of the short-term rental industry to join in. Booking.com said it would take 'necessary action' if listings violate local laws. Notting Hill Genesis, the housing association, takes a 'zero-tolerance approach' and says it will 'take action if proven.'

Under the data-sharing programme, local authorities across London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Anglesey will work with Airbnb to remove listings operating without permission. The Cabinet Office expects the initiative to 'return hundreds of properties to genuine families in its first year.' Meanwhile, the Social Housing Action Campaign argues this is a 'calculated distraction' from the acute housing crisis - but Cabinet Office Minister Satvir Kaur insists it's not an 'either/or,' noting that £39 billion is being invested in new homes.

With more than 1.3 million households on waiting lists in England (up 10% in two years), every little bit helps - even if it means playing detective on lockboxes.