An overview of the principles, processes and duties inherent in the homelessness legislation. Participants will develop a systematic approach to homelessness law, become familiar with the Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities and consider the main principles relating to housing allocations.

Course contains

• Policy options for allocations and homelessness legislation
• Legislation and the Homelessness Code of Guidance
• Duty to make enquiries
• Housing options and prevention of homelessness
• Key elements of the basic definition sections of the legislation
• Assessing eligibility, intentionality, homelessness priority need, and local connection
• Important case law
• Review and appeal rights
• Allocation of housing

Learning outcomes

After this course, you will be able to:

• Identify cirmcumstances that trigger a council's duty to start a homelessness investigation
• Describe key factors governing eligibility for assistance, homelessness, priority need, intentional homelessness and local connection.
• Advise on the duties of a local authority towards a homeless person
• Identify broad legal issues arising in the allocation of social housing.

Suitable for

Anyone who is likely to come into contact with, or needs to give housing advice to, people in housing need.  No prior knowledge of the legislation is needed.

In-house training

We can also run this course in-house. Find out more about in-house training