Documents

A letter for making a final accommodation offer to a homeless applicant to end the s.193C(4) accommodation duty.

When is the s.193C duty owed?

The s.193C(4) duty to secure accommodation is owed where a 'main duty-type' case failed to cooperate with the council.

The s.193C(4) duty is owed instead of the main housing duty.

Specifically, the duty is owed where:

• the homeless applicant deliberately and unreasonably refused to take a mandatory step in their housing plan
• the prevention or relief duty ends as a result, and
• when the prevention or relief duty ends the authority is satisfied that the applicant:
  • is eligible for assistance
  • is homeless
  • has a priority need, and
  • did not become homeless intentionally (s.193B(1), s.193C(1) to (4)).

What is a 'final accommodation offer'?

A 'final accommodation offer' is:

• an offer of an assured shorthold tenancy
• made by a private landlord
• with a fixed term of at least six months
• which is approved by the local housing authority
• for the purpose of ending the s.193C(4) accommodation duty (s.193C(7)).

Notes

The letter includes the information that must be provided before the offer is refused, should you wish subsequently to end the s.193C(4) duty.

The applicant must, before he or she refuses the offer, be notified of:

• the consequences of accepting or refusing the offer
• their right to request a review of the suitability of the accommodation (s.193C(6)).