Local authority homelessness duties
Duties that a local authority may owe a homeless person, including to prevent or relieve homelessness, and to provide interim, temporary or long term accommodation.
Last updated: 17 March 2021
Duty to provide information and advice
Local authorities have a duty to provide information and advice about homelessness
Local authority homelessness inquiries
Local authorities have a duty to carry out inquiries if they have reason to believe someone is homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Prevention duty
A local authority must take reasonable steps to help the applicant secure that accommodation does not cease to be available for their occupation.
Relief duty
A local authority must take reasonable steps to help the applicant secure that accommodation becomes available for at least six months.
Interim duty to accommodate
When local authorities have a duty to provide homeless applicants with interim accommodation while carrying out inquiries.
Main housing duty
The main housing duty owed by a local authority to someone who is homeless, eligible, has a priority need and is not intentionally homeless.
Duties owed when intentionally homeless
Duties a local authority has towards an applicant who is in priority need but intentionally homeless.
Accommodation duty in cases of non cooperation
The main housing duty may not apply if an applicant has not cooperated with a step in their personal housing plan.
Protection of property
An explanation of the duties local authorities have to protect the personal belongings of those to whom it has a duty to provide accommodation.
Cooperation between agencies
How local authorities can ask other agencies for assistance with discharging their duties towards an applicant.
Notification of duties
The local authority must notify the applicant when a homelessness duty is owed.
Homelessness strategies
A local authority's duties to carry out a homelessness review and publish a homelessness strategy.