Woman convicted of social housing fraud at Guildford Crown Court

Following a three-day trial at Guildford Crown Court, sitting in Chichester, Janina Marciniak‑Kazarian was unanimously found guilty on 1 April 2026 of two counts of fraud.

The prosecution established that the defendant failed to declare her ownership of a property in Poland when completing housing application forms and associated declarations. Had Spelthorne Borough Council been aware of this asset, her application would have been assessed differently, and she would not have been awarded a valuable social housing property.

The jury was satisfied that the non‑disclosure was dishonest and deliberate, and intended to improve her chances of securing social housing assistance. The court heard evidence from local authority officers and investigators, supported by documentary records and application materials. The jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts after just over an hour of deliberation.

A Council spokesperson said, “Through proactive investigations, this Council works to prevent and detect fraud, protecting social housing so it can support families who rely on it most.”

Sentencing is scheduled for 1 June 2026, following the preparation of a pre‑sentence report.