ePetition - HOMELESSNESS FROM AN ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY

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ePetition details

HOMELESSNESS FROM AN ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to adopt a policy that when citizens apply as homeless from an assured shorthold tenancy that BHCC implement the guidelines “that authorities should note that the fact that a tenant has a right to remain in occupation does not necessarily mean that he or she is not homeless" as prescribed by the "HOMELESSNESS CODE OF GUIDANCE" (Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) BHCC should assist citizens that are faced with the certainty of homelessness in the same way as if they are homeless and not wait for the time when Court action is taken, costs incurred, and families are on the street. This is unjust, results in additional costs to BHCC and the family involved, and is socially damaging.

At the present time BHCC follows the practice of a number of English local authorities (although not recommendations of national government) requiring assured shorthold tenants, who have been served with a notice of the landlord’s intention to seek possession under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, to remain in situ until a court order/bailiff’s warrant has been obtained before accepting a statutory duty under the homelessness provisions of Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).

It should be noted that the ending of an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) has been the most frequently occurring reason for loss of a settled home in the last 15 consecutive quarters. 31% of all homeless acceptances in England between October and December 2015 arose from the termination of an AST.

This ePetition ran from 01/06/2016 to 21/09/2016 and has now finished.

39 people signed this ePetition.

 


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