Ground 17: False Statement by Tenant
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Ground 17 is a discretionary possession ground for when a tenant obtained the tenancy by making a false statement. This applies when the tenant lied on their application about income, employment, previous landlord references, or identity.
What is Ground 17?
Ground 17 addresses tenancy fraud—when a tenant lied to get the tenancy. If you wouldn't have granted the tenancy had you known the truth, Ground 17 may apply.
What false statements are covered?
Examples include:
- Income lies: Overstating earnings to pass affordability checks
- Employment: Claiming to be employed when not
- References: Fake landlord references or fake employer
- Identity: Using false name or identity documents
- Household composition: Hiding occupants, children, pets
- CCJs/bankruptcy: Hiding financial problems
What are the requirements?
To use Ground 17:
- False statement: Must have been made by the tenant (or someone acting for them)
- Induced the tenancy: The lie must have been why you granted the tenancy
- Notice period: 2 weeks minimum
What evidence do I need?
You need to prove:
- What the tenant stated (application form, emails)
- That the statement was false (evidence of the truth)
- That you relied on it when granting the tenancy
Keep copies of applications, reference responses, and communications. If you later discover the reference was fake, document how you found out.
How does court decide?
Ground 17 is discretionary. Courts consider:
- Seriousness of the false statement
- Whether it was material (would you have still let if you'd known?)
- Tenant's subsequent conduct (have they been good tenants despite the lie?)
- Proportionality
Frequently asked questions
What if the tenant has been perfect since moving in?
Good conduct after moving in may weigh in the tenant's favour for a discretionary ground. However, the fraud still occurred. Courts balance this against the seriousness of the deception.
What about lies by guarantors?
Ground 17 focuses on statements by the tenant or someone acting on their behalf. If a guarantor lied, you may have claims against them but Ground 17 might not apply directly.
Managing this yourself?
LandlordOS helps UK landlords stay compliant and organised:
- Automatic compliance reminders for Gas Safety, EICR, EPC
- Document storage with AI-powered certificate reading
- Tenancy tracking and rent management
LandlordOS tip
Thorough referencing prevents Ground 17 situations. Verify everything: call employers directly (not just the number on the form), use referencing agencies, check documents carefully. Prevention beats cure.