Money laundering funding Right to Buy applications

The Daily Star says that hundreds of benefits claimants are able to buy council houses at reduced prices as a result of using the government's Right to Buy Scheme, but officials fear many are raising cash by laundering money. Fraud officer Andrew Hyatt, who works for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, says 33 of 39 Right to Buy applications in his borough collapsed after an official probe. "In terms of money laundering, it is imperative that we know where the finances are coming from to purchase the property to ensure it is not from illegal sources", he stated.