Documents
Requesting financial assistance because client cannot afford private rental
This letter enables you - if you're representing a homeless applicant in England- to write to the council to requesting they:
- Pay prevention fund money, and
- Support a discretionary housing payment (DHP) application
because your client cannot afford a private rental.
The letter includes sections which can be amended as necessary, to set out:
- Your client's circumstances.
- A summary of the law and guidance on how affordability decisions should be made, including the Samuels v Birmingham CC judgment.
- Arguments as to why additional financial help is required if the council is to lawfully perform their duty.
The letter also includes text - that can be adapted as necessary - to ask the council to:
- Carry out a review of the steps it has proposed to take, as part of the s.195 prevention or s.189B relief 'reasonable steps' duty.
- Provide their policy that governs additional 'homelessness prevention' payments from their homelessness budget.
- Confirm the outcome of your client's housing register application.
