All or Nothing? Catherine Rowlands in the Court of Appeal as it considers if interim housing must suit the whole family
Housing, Public Law and Judicial Review
Does interim accommodation have to be suitable for all the family, even if they are not currently living with the applicant? That is the question that the Court of Appeal will be considering today in Beach v South Hams District Council.
SHDC accepted the main housing duty to Mr Beach, who applied seeking accommodation for himself and four children. But by the time they arranged accommodation for him in a hotel, his children were living with his wife, and children’s services were involved. Was the emergency accommodation arranged for Mr Beach along reasonable for him to continue to occupy, so that his refusal of it warranted a discharge of duty decision, or should the local authority have offered him accommodation big enough for the children who had accommodation elsewhere, just because they were included on his application? The implications for local housing authorities could be considerable if the Court of Appeal upholds his appeal.
The hearing will be live-streamed.
Catherine Rowlands is acting for South Hams District Council.
