Occupancy Fraud Defintion

What Is Occupancy Fraud?

The term occupancy fraud refers to a form of mortgage fraud that occurs when the borrower lies about the occupancy status of the property, stating it will be owner-occupied. Relatively common, borrowers commit occupancy fraud to get better interest rates on their mortgages. That's because lenders offer lower rates for owner-occupied homes compared to investment properties. Borrowers who commit occupancy fraud may face serious legal and financial consequences.

Understanding Occupancy Fraud

Occupancy fraud happens when mortgagors mislead lenders about the intended use of their properties. Because financing is cheaper on owner-occupied homes, a property owner may say they want to use the home as a principal residence when, in fact, they plan to rent it out. It can also happen in the reverse situation. In reverse occupancy fraud, a borrower buys a house as an investment property, then lists rent proceeds as income to qualify for the mortgage. But instead of renting the house, the borrower occupies the house as a primary residence.

When occupancy fraud occurs, banks are not properly compensated for risk. Lenders typically charge higher rates on mortgages for non-owner occupied homes because of the higher delinquency rates associated with them. Delinquency rates tend to be lower for owner-occupied properties because borrowers don't want to lose their own homes. The stigma attached to losing an investment property is often much lower, since losses can be written off for tax purposes.

This type of mortgage fraud is fairly common among smaller investors. For instance, people who flip houses and those who use home-sharing platforms, such as Airbnb, make occupancy fraud much easier. While the Washington Post reported that the trend of lying on a mortgage application rose between 2011 and 2013, occupancy fraud did, in fact, decline 2% between the second quarter of 2018 and the same period in 2019, according to CoreLogic's annual mortgage fraud report.

So what happens to borrowers who lie about property use and are then discovered? Lies on mortgage applications are considered to be banking fraud. They can trigger severe financial penalties, prosecution, and even prison time if convicted. For one thing, lenders can call the loan and demand immediate payment of the full mortgage balance. If the borrowers can’t afford it or refuse to pay, the lender typically moves to foreclose. That usually destroys the borrowers' original plans. In cases involving multiple misrepresentations, lenders can also refer the case to the FBI.

Committing occupancy fraud is a crime and can lead to a prison sentence in some cases.

Special Considerations

Occupancy fraud requires an intent to deceive. But renting out a property where the mortgage was obtained as an owner-occupied home is not always a crime. As a general rule, merely living at the property for one year or more is enough to prove an intent to occupy the home. In any case, borrowers should always check with their mortgage lenders before renting owner-occupied properties to tenants. That is the best way to avoid accidentally committing occupancy fraud.

There are also several other situations where renting an owner-occupied property after less than one year is usually not considered occupancy fraud. The most obvious case is when an employment situation requires the homeowner to move somewhere else. Expatriates who temporarily work in foreign countries are often allowed to rent out their homes during their absence. Getting married or moving in with a boyfriend or girlfriend is another possibility.

But what about a home that you purchase for your child — is that still considered an investment property? That actually depends. If your child is paying the mortgage but isn't named on the mortgage application, documents, and title, it's still considered an investment property, so you'll end up paying a higher interest rate.