Part 7 Decisions

 

Section 184 of the Housing Act 1996 places a duty on local authorities to notify applicants of their decision in regards to what duty (if any) is owed to them according to homelessness legisaltion.

 

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2018 has placed increased burdens on local authorities. Consequently, a significant amount of staff time is consumed by the extra burdens imposed by the amended legislation, causing delays progressing and making decisions on homelessness applications. Such delays can be very costly, especially if applicants are in temporary accommodation while waiting for the outcome of their homeless application.

 

This is where I can step in...

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I can conduct all aspects of homelessness decision making including: 

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• Initial contact and diagnostic interview to ascertain the applicants circumstances, assessing security of tenure and including liaising with landlords to prevent homelessness where applicable 

• Determine whether the applicant is owed the prevention or relief duty 

• Notification of whether the prevention or relief duty is owed 

• Issue of a personal housing plan; regular review and contact with the applicant to ensure the prevention and/or relief duties are being conducted adequately 

• Notificiation of the end of the prevention and/or relied duty

• Obtaining additional evidence i.e. medical reports, police reports etc

• Issue of a minded to letter where I intend to make a negative decision (best practice)

• Notification of what duty is owed (if any) via s184 homelessness decision letter 

• Giving full reasons for any negative decision made, addressing any counter evidence or arguments put forward by the applicant and that errors of public law have been avoided

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Backlogs increase customer frustration and leave a local authority exposed to the risk of an applicant initiating a legal challenge or successfully complaining to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. I can help you avoid such risks by reducing your backlog quickly. I work remotely, which means I do not have the distractions that can be present in an office environment. 

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If you are interested in reducing your s184 backlog,  I am here to help.