You are homeless because you are in shared accommodation so here’s another shared accommodation!?!

It is well established that shared facilities are not suitable for families with children as long term accommodation. The client first approached the council in January 2019 for homelessness assistance. After a s.204 appeal earlier this year which was settled they accepted that she was homeless because she was living in shared accommodation. However, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets were insisting that our client move into a bed and breakfast before they provide her suitable accommodation, labelling this as procedure. This did not make sense as the client would be moved to another shared facility. The client is pregnant and has a 1-year-old child. We lodged a judicial review claim on behalf of the client. Shortly after lodging the claim the local authority offered a flat to the client which she accepted. We had to make representations because it was not on the ground floor, the council were previously told that during our client’s pregnancy she has had major back and mobility problems. This would mean she would be unable to get in and out of the flat without risk of injury to herself, her child and unborn child. We reached settlement after the local authority offered a self-contained two bedroom ground floor flat.

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William Ford Partner
Housing and Social Care

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