Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on Wednesday arrested six people and searched seven sites in an operation conducted as it announced a bribery and fraud investigation into the former management of Home REIT, a UK-listed social housing company. The suspected wrongdoing is valued at about 300 million pounds (nearly $404 million).
Investigators, supported by the National Crime Agency, carried out searches at homes in Altrincham, Maidenhead and London, and a commercial site in Manchester. Italy’s Guardia di Finanza also searched a property in Venice as part of the inquiry.
Home REIT, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2020, raised more than 850 million pounds by selling investments tied to leasing thousands of homes across the UK. Investors were told their money would be used to buy and refurbish properties leased to publicly funded charities and community interest companies to house rough sleepers, veterans and people struggling with addiction. Trading in Home REIT shares was suspended in January 2023 after questions emerged over property valuations and tenants’ ability to pay rent.