Homelessness – Parliamentary Written Answer

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has issued to local authorities regarding the circumstances under which they can discharge their homelessness duties into the private rented sector outside (a) their local authority area and (b) their region.

Mr Prisk: [edited reply] The law requires that, as far as reasonably practicable, authorities should place homeless households within their own district. The new homelessness Suitability Order came into force on 9 November 2012. The order, which applies to temporary accommodation and private rented accommodation used to end the homelessness duty, requires councils to consider the impact a change in location would have on households, including disruption to employment, education and caring responsibilities. Under the homelessness legislation, any accommodation used as temporary or settled accommodation (whether in the private or social sector) must be “suitable” for the applicant and his or her household. This includes affordability, size, condition, accessibility and location.

Read the full reply on Hansard.