Council Allocation Policies Challenged By Court Ruling

Councils across the country may be forced to tear up allocation policies denying people from accessing housing waiting lists following a successful court challenge. Last Thursday, the Court of Appeal ruled that Hammersmith and Fulham’s policy, which disqualified Lina Jakimaviciute from its housing register because she was living in temporary accommodation, was unlawful. The court found that the policy breached the 1996 Housing act, which requires councils to give ‘reasonable preference’ to homeless people. Lawyers now believe that the ruling sets a legal precedent for other English local authorities. Read more on Inside Housing.