Oliver and Ciara only recently met, having gone on just a few dates when the forming clouds of Covid began sweeping across the entire globe. days have passed and the authority is satisfied the applicant does not have a priority need or is intentionally homeless Where the authority has decided that main housing duty is owed before the end of the 56 days' period, the Homelessness Code of Guidance advises the authority not to notify the applicant until the 56 days have passed because the notification might 'detract from activities to relieve their homelessness'. [2] The Code advises that where the authority has all the information that is required to make a decision in relation to the applicant's priority need and intentionality, it should be possible to issue a notification on or around day 57. [3] Where no decision has been made on priority need or intentional homelessness b) the applicant accepts an offer of an assured tenancy (other than an assured shorthold tenancy) from a private landlord ( section 193(6)(cc)). This could include an offer of an assured tenancy made by a private registered provider; d) the applicant’s refusal to co-operate with any step was deliberate and unreasonable in the context of their particular circumstances and needs. For example, if they prioritised attending a Jobcentre or medical appointment, or fulfilling a caring responsibility, above viewing a property, this is unlikely to constitute a deliberate and unreasonable refusal to cooperate. However, if the applicant persistently failed to attend property viewings or appointments without good reason; or they actively refused to engage with activity required to help them secure accommodation, then this might be considered deliberate and unreasonable refusal to cooperate.

The housing authority should take into account any particular difficulties that the applicant may have in managing communications when considering if failure to cooperate is deliberate and unreasonable, particularly if they are street homeless or moving between temporary places to stay such as the homes of different family and friends. Where an applicant in these circumstances is owed the relief duty the housing authority will want to provide a seamless transition between the prevention and relief duties, including notifying the applicant of any further duties owed to them at the same time as issuing the notice advising that the prevention duty has ended. These notifications may be combined. s. 189B(5) and s.189B(7)(b) Housing Act 1996 as inserted by s.5(2) Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Housing authorities might use the section 205(3) power to deliver accommodation services for groups that are at higher risk of homelessness, for example young people with low incomes. The power might also be used to provide additional help to those least able to secure accommodation directly from a private landlord, such as people with an offending history or people with a mental health problem. Housing authorities will wish to consider local priorities, needs and resources when considering how the power might best be utilised in their district. Section 193C(4): duty to accommodate applicants who have deliberately and unreasonably refused to co-operate pending final offerUnder section 190, duties to persons becoming homeless intentionally, the housing authority will need to secure that accommodation is available for the applicant’s occupation for long enough to give them a reasonable opportunity of securing accommodation and provide advice and assistance in any attempts the applicant makes to secure accommodation. This advice must have regard to the assessment the housing authority made under section 189A, assessment and personalised plans. For further guidance on intentional homelessness see Chapter 9. F – the applicant is no longer eligible for assistance (sections 195(8)(f) and 189B(7)(e)). Where new tenancies are secured housing authorities are encouraged to adopt policies favouring longer tenancies than the legal minimum where market conditions in their area allow. It is recommended that, wherever possible, minimum tenancy lengths of 12 months are secured to provide more stability to individuals and particularly to families with children.

Where an applicant has contractual or other obligations in respect of their existing accommodation (e.g. a tenancy agreement or lease), the housing authority can only reasonably expect an offer to be taken up if the applicant is able to bring those obligations to an end before being required to take up the offer ( section 193(8)). The housing authority will cease to be subject to the duty under section 193(2) (the main housing duty) in the following circumstances: trying to see what day falls on the exact date difference of 56 weekdays from today, you can count up each day skipping Saturdays and Sundays. c) the personal circumstances of the applicant and the consequences to them of a decision not to exercise the discretion to accommodate.

WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED

If a local authority is satisfied that an applicant is eligible and homeless it owes them the relief duty. The local authority must take reasonable steps to help the homeless applicant secure that suitable accommodation becomes available for their occupation for at least six months.

Where the relief duty is brought to an end as a result of the applicant’s deliberate and unreasonable refusal to co-operate the main housing duty will not apply. However, under section 193C(4) the housing authority will, be required to secure that accommodation is available for an applicant who has priority need and is unintentionally homeless, until such time as they make a final accommodation offer or a final Part 6 offer of suitable accommodation, or the duty comes to an end for another of the reasons set out in section 193C(5). Notification to end the prevention duty Actually, the "not right" starts immediately, when a decomposing body is found in the tub of an apartment. It's the smell the clued other residents in that something wasn't right. Now DI Leah Riordan (down to earth and all about work) and DS Karl Connolly (all about sex all the time) are having to figure out why this, maybe, accidental death doesn't really work as an accidental death. The notice must specify which of the circumstances in section 189B(7) apply and inform the applicant that they have right to request a review of the authority’s decision to bring the relief duty under section 189B(2) to an end, and of the time frame within which such a request must be made. The authority can extend the duty. [8] If the applicant is not in priority need, no further duties arise after the end of the relief duty.

There are 7 circumstances under which both the prevention and relief duties can be brought to an end. In addition to these common circumstances the prevention duty will end where the applicant has become homeless, and the relief duty will end when 56 days has passed and the housing authority is satisfied that the applicant has a priority need and is homeless unintentionally, or on refusal of a final accommodation offer or Part 6 offer. Section 188(1) requires housing authorities to secure that accommodation is available for an applicant (and their household) if they have reason to believe that the applicant may: Each new twist, dispensed with surgical precision, will keep you hooked, nostalgic for the days when Covid-19 was the worst threat. a) the applicant accepts a suitable offer of accommodation under Part 6 (an allocation of social housing) ( section 193(6)(c)). This would include an offer of an assured tenancy of a private registered provider property via the housing authority’s allocation scheme;

However, the constantly changing timelines takes a bit of getting used to and it does lead to some repetition especially with Ciara and Oliver’s perspectives, hence my four star rating. Housing authorities have duties to help prevent and relieve homelessness for eligible applicants who are threatened with becoming homelessness within 56 days, or are homeless. The section 195(2) prevention duty requires authorities to take reasonable steps to help the applicant to secure that accommodation does not cease to be available to them, and the relief duty requires housing authorities to take reasonable steps to help the applicant to secure that suitable accommodation becomes available to them for at least 6 months. For further guidance on the prevention duty see Chapter 12 and for further guidance on the relief duty see Chapter 13. The characters of Ciara and Oliver were well-developed, and the underlying motives/psychology of both were explored as they each withheld information from one another (and from the reader). It’s obvious from the beginning that there are secrets and hidden agendas, but the reader is just as clueless as the characters.

Section 195(6) prevents a housing authority from bringing the prevention duty to an end after 56 days if the applicant has been given a valid section 21 notice which will expire in 56 days or has expired, and is in respect of their only available accommodation. This means that the housing authority will continue to owe a prevention duty beyond the initial 56 days, until the applicant is served with a section 195(5) notice on the basis that another of the circumstance set out in section 195(8) applies. Notification to end the relief duty (section 189B(7)) Naturally, the two are apprehensive about making such a hasty and bold commitment. After all, they barely know one another. Can Oliver win over Ciara during this time? Or will she discover what secret he’s desperate to hide?