A man has pleaded guilty to tenancy fraud after unlawfully subletting his council flat  by advertising it for rent via Airbnb.

Birmingham council obtained a court order to get information from Airbnb and found that Reza Sherafaty, 39, had rented out the property for a total of 158 nights, earning himself £8,127.27 in fees.

Searches of the Airbnb website found photographs of the council home, listed as a ‘lovely entire private house with private parking’.

At a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Sherafaty pleaded guilty to three offences. It’s been agreed he will compensate the council for the full value of the fraud and to pay legal costs, which together totals nearly £13,000.

He has also signed a notice to quit to terminate his tenancy and return the property prior to the next court hearing in October.

A council spokesperson says: “Subletting our homes and depriving a family actually in need is illegal, and we will not tolerate it. There is a significant shortage of homes in Birmingham, with 25,000 people on the housing register in Birmingham waiting for one.

“For many families in the city and across the country, the reality is that many are enduring difficult circumstances and facing years-long waits for a home. We will not hesitate to conduct investigations and take action to ensure these homes are given to families in need.”