Local authority inquiries into intentional homelessness

When processing a homelessness application, the burden is on the local authority to satisfy itself that the applicant is intentionally homeless. It is not up to the applicant to prove they are not intentionally homeless.[1]

If there is any uncertainty about the matter, for example where the applicant became homeless some years previously and the facts are therefore unclear, it may not be possible for the authority to satisfy itself that the applicant became homeless intentionally.[2]

A local authority is entitled to rely on a court's decision to grant a possession order without having to carry out inquiries designed to question whether the court's judgement was correct.[3]

A local authority must resolve whether events such as threats and intimidation, which caused an applicant to leave their home, have occurred as alleged. It must not put the burden of proving whether events occurred on the applicant.[4]

The local authority should disclose to the applicant any information given by a third party.[5]

The public sector equality duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 to take account of a person's protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation) applies to the homelessness decision making process.

For example, in one case, failure to make adequate inquiries into an applicant's disability and to consider the relevance of that disability as to whether or not the applicant was 'intentionally homeless' was a breach of the above duty and the decision was quashed.[6]

The duty only applies where the authority has reason to believe such inquiries are relevant, so advisers should make the local authority aware of all the applicant's circumstances.

The Homelessness Code of Guidance makes it clear that decisions on intentional homelessness must arise from the investigations carried out in each individual case. General policies, which seek to predefine what is and what is not intentional homelessness cannot be applied.[7]

Victims of violence

The Code of Guidance sets out the approach local authorities should take assessing whether a victim of violence is intentionally homeless. Authorities should consult with any relevant parties to gain information on the applicant's emotional and mental well-being, maturity and general ability to understand the impact of their actions. Particular consideration should be given to the time the violence occurred, including when any accommodation was fled.[8]

Authorities should ask questions in a sensitive way and ensure staff have relevant skills and training to deal with applicants who might find it difficult to disclose personal details.[9]

An applicant is not prohibited from reapplying as homeless after a finding of intentionality.

If no new facts are revealed in the application, or any new facts are of a trivial nature, the local authority can reject the application. Where the application does reveal substantive new facts, the authority have to make inquiries, secure interim accommodation, and issue a decision on the application in the normal way.[10]

Where an applicant applies to another authority the second local authority can consider what the first authority discovered in its investigations but it must form its own conclusions based upon its own inquiries.[11]

The current Homelessness Code of Guidance was introduced on 3 April 2018 and the references here are to this Code. For applications made before this date, the recommendations of the 2006 Code of Guidance should apply.