New facts, ex-marriages and homeless applications – Nearly Legal
‘This was judicial review of Hillingdon’s refusal to accept a homeless application from Ms A.’
Nearly Legal, 7th November 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Category: homelessness
Homeless Reduction Bill – part 2 – Nearly Legal
‘After my rantette about clause 1 of the Homeless Reduction Bill as published for second reading, it is time to turn to the substance of the Bill in terms of new duties and so on. And, some drafting issues aside, these are broadly positive.’
Nearly Legal, 26th October 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Reducing the Homelessness Reduction Bill. Part 1 – Nearly Legal
‘Monday’s big news was the Govt announcement that it will support the Homelessness Reduction Bill – Bob Blackman MP’s private members bill, due for second reading on 28 October. But exactly what is it that the Govt is supporting?’
Nearly Legal, 25th October 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Homeless eligibility amends and deposit discretions – Nearly Legal
‘The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 have (finally) been made to come into force on 30 October 2016. These sort out the anomaly highlighted in Romans v Southwark LBC and SSDCLG and Alabi v SSDCLG about those with leave to remain granted under Appendix FM. Their eligibility for housing and homeless assistance is confirmed. A number of appeals have been stayed pending the regulations, which should now be resolved.’
Nearly Legal, 3rd October 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Leeds homelessness protesters fight legal bid to evict tent city – The Guardian
‘The organisers of a homelessness protest, in which around 50 rough sleepers have pitched tents in Leeds city centre, are due to appear in court to fight a bid to disperse them.’
The Guardian, 3rd October 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Adverts banned for portraying beggars as ‘disingenuous and undeserving’ – The Independent
‘Four Nottingham City Council posters urging people not to give money to beggars have been banned for being likely to cause widespread offence and reinforcing negative stereotypes.’
The Independent, 28th September 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Right to be Forgotten? – Nearly Legal
‘When does temporary accommodation become settled so as to break the chain of causation of intentional homelessness? The appeal in Huda v LB Redbridge [2016] EWCA Civ 709 concerned a homeless applicant and his family, who were effectively forgotten about by the council following a final decision on their application.’
Nearly Legal, 18th September 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/
Housing applicant wins challenge after accepting offer ‘under protest’ – Local Government Lawyer
‘The London Borough of Brent was perverse to characterise acceptance while seeking review as refusal in a homelessness case.’
Local Government Lawyer, 13th September 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
A compendium of vulnerability cases – Nearly Legal
‘Following on from our post on Mohammed v Southwark LBC, here are notes on a further three appeals to the County Court under section 204 Housing Act 1996, all related to decisions on priority need (or lack of it) through vulnerability.’
Nearly Legal, 12th September 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Homeless young offenders’ housing criticised by report – BBC News
‘A third of homeless 16 and 17-year-old offenders in England and Wales are being placed in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation, a report has found.’
BBC News, 7th September 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
What do points mean? (No prizes) – Nearly Legal
‘Another allocation judicial review, related, but perhaps distinct from the line of ‘reasonable preference’ cases we have previously seen. The issue, in part, Islington’s use of a ‘points threshold’ for allowing bidding for properties, though not for qualification to the register.’
Nearly Legal, 29th August 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Vulnerability after Hotak/Johnson/Kanu – Nearly Legal
‘Mr M had applied to Southwark as homeless. He provided a GP’s letter stating that he suffered from depression, was prescribed anti-depressants and was awaiting therapy. Soon after, Mr M’s brother was murdered and he was badly affected by this.’
Nearly Legal, 22nd August 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Two jailed for murder of homeless Salford man – The Guardian
‘Two men have been jailed for the murder of a 23-year-old homeless man in Greater Manchester who was attacked and then set on fire in a tent.’
The Guardian, 11th August 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Housing needs and household members – Nearly Legal
‘This was a judicial review of a decision by Luton Council Housing Appeals and Review Panel not to offer Mr Jones a tenancy of the property of which Mr J’s late father was the tenant, but instead offer a one bed property.’
Nearly Legal, 7th August 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Facing the Facts – Nearly Legal
‘R (on the application of Hoyte) v London Borough of Southwark [2016] EWHC 1665 Admin is a useful decision of the High Court on the subject of repeat homelessness applications.’
Nearly Legal, 25th July 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Council “unreasonable” for refusing to accept third application for assistance – Local Government Lawyer
‘The London Borough of Southwark acted unlawfully when it had refused to accept a third application for homelessness assistance from applicant “JH”, the administrative court has found.’
Local Government Lawyer, 13th July 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Father loses right to care for baby son after social services raise alarm over his ‘risky’ use of apps ‘for the purposes of sexual intercourse’ – Daily Telegraph
‘A 29-year-old unemployed man who wanted to care for his baby son has lost a family court fight after social workers complained about him meeting women online for sex.’
Daily Telegraph, 5th July 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Former housing officer at city council jailed for three years for fraud – Local Government Lawyer
‘A former senior housing needs officer at Birmingham City Council has been jailed for three years for fraud.’
Local Government Lawyer, 27th June 2016
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Gatekeeping special – Nearly Legal
‘This has been quite a week for issues about Local Authorities gatekeeping homeless applications coming to the fore. This post addresses practices and policies of three councils. Eastbourne BC, LB Haringey and Bournemouth BC.’
Nearly Legal, 5th June 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Got needs that need assessing – Nearly Legal
‘Smajlaj, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2016] EWHC 1240 (Admin). What is the extent of the duty under section 192 Housing Act 1996? This duty, owed to those who are homeless and eligible, not intentionally homeless, but not in priority need, has tended to amount to little more than the Local Authority handing over a leaflet and/or list of letting agents. But this judicial review, unusually, involves a consideration of fulfilment of the duty.’
Nearly Legal, 29th May 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
