Genevieve Screeche-Powell and Clare Cullen are representing a local authority in the Court of Appeal today. The case concerns the suitability of accommodation offered outside a local authority’s area as part of its homelessness duties.
The case is significant as it will consider:
- an important point of principle about whether a local authority has to notify another local authority of an out-of-area placement when accommodation has been refused
- whether any failure to notify the other authority has an impact on the suitability of the offer of accommodation and whether it can be raised on a homelessness appeal
- the extent of a local authority’s duties under s.208 to search for accommodation in the private sector.
These points have not been considered by the Court of Appeal before.
Genevieve is leading Clare in the case.