Southwark council has repossessed a two-bedroom social housing flat in London previously rented by Fatima Jabbe-Bio, the first lady of Sierra Leone. The council cited a 12-month investigation into potential tenancy agreement breaches.
The case highlights the pressure on social housing in London and the efforts by local authorities to ensure properties are occupied by those with genuine housing needs, particularly as waiting lists grow.
A social housing flat in London, previously rented by Fatima Jabbe-Bio, the first lady of Sierra Leone, has been repossessed by Southwark council. The council confirmed the recovery of the two-bedroom property in Walworth after a 12-month investigation into potential breaches of tenancy rules. Jabbe-Bio, married to Sierra Leone’s president Julius Maada Bio, had been listed on the tenancy since 2007 and reportedly divided her time between the UK and Sierra Leone since her husband's election in 2018.
Housing regulations stipulate that council properties should primarily serve as the tenant's principal residence. Reports from The Times, based on neighbour accounts, raised questions about whether Jabbe-Bio consistently occupied the south London flat. Reginald Popoola, Southwark's executive member for council homes, stated the flat would be returned to its intended purpose of housing families with legitimate needs from the council's waiting list.
In an interview, Jabbe-Bio defended her right to retain the tenancy, asserting that she paid for the flat herself and that her children are British citizens. There is no suggestion that she has been charged with any offense. The repossession occurs amidst significant pressure on London's social housing sector, with extensive waiting lists and rising homelessness. Southwark council reported recovering 107 properties over the past two years due to tenancy fraud or unlawful occupation.
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