A Surbiton resident has been on the receiving end of a hoax letter stating their home has enough room to house an Albanian man seeking asylum in the UK.

Police are now investigating the source of the letter, typed and printed on headed paper, which purports to be from Kingston Council's housing department.

It was passed to the council by a private landlord whose tenant had received the document in the post and queried its content.

Although quite detailed, the letter has been described as an elaborate hoax and one that may be politically motivated by targeting asylum seekers.

It is not the first time residents in Kingston have been targeted by pranksters. A similar scam in Richmond three years ago left dozens of bewildered families believing council staff would be visiting their homes to see if they had any spare rooms.

In this case, the letter said the tenant's flat had been identified as having an unused room which could be used to house a 38-year-old Albanian man seeking asylum.

It said under Government legislation councils have a duty to provide accommodation for people seeking asylum while their applications are assessed.

The letter claims the council no longer has the facilities to house people in the borough but can place asylum seekers in privately rented accommodation that is seen as under occupied.

A council spokesman said the letter appeared to have been well researched as it gave the name of a bonafide council officer.

Letters should be forwarded to customer services, Kingston housing department, Guildhall One, High Street, Kingston, Surrey KT1 1EU.

April 30, 2003 10:30