A local authority’s policy of not giving interim accommodation, pending a review of their refusal of an application for housing assistance, was not unlawful. In exercising their discretion the authority have to balance the objective of maintaining fairness between homeless persons in circumstances where they have decided that no duty is owed to the applicant, and proper consideration of the possibility that the applicant might be right and that to deprive him of accommodation could result in the denial of an entitlement. (4) certain matters will always require consideration, although other matters may also be relevant: (a) the ones requiring consideration were the merits of the case and the extent to which it can properly be said that the decision was one which was either contrary to the apparent merits or was one which involved a very fine balance of judgment; (b) whether consideration is required of new material, information or argument which could have a real effect on the decision under review; (c) the personal circumstances of the applicant and the consequences of an adverse decision on the exercise of the discretion.
Judges:
Latham J
Citations:
Gazette 17-Sep-1997, Times 20-Jun-1997, [1997] EWHC Admin 502, [1997] 30 HLR 315
Links:
Statutes:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – Regina v Brighton and Hove Council ex parte Nacion (2) CA 1-Feb-1999
The applicant sought review of a decision not to offer him temporary accomodation pending an appeal following a review of a refusal to offer him emergency accomodation. He had become homeless as a result of imprisonment.
Held: The section gave . .
Cited – Lawer, Regina (on the Application of) v Restormel Borough Council Admn 12-Oct-2007
The applicant was joint tenant of a council property. She suffered domestic violence, and said she was advised by the local authority to surrender her tenancy on the basis that they would rehouse her. She did so. The authority refused to provide a . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Housing, Local Government
Updated: 26 May 2022; Ref: scu.137447