Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977

3 Preliminary duties of housing authorities in cases of possible homelessness, etc.

(1) If—

(a) a person applies to a housing authority for accommodation or for assistance in obtaining accommodation, and

(b) the authority have reason to believe that he may be homeless or threatened with homelessness,

the authority shall make appropriate inquiries.

(2) In subsection (1) above "appropriate inquiries" means—

(a) such inquiries as are necessary to satisfy the authority whether the person who applied to them is homeless or threatened with homelessness, and

(b) if the authority are satisfied that he is homeless or threatened with homelessness, any further inquiries necessary to satisfy them—

(i) whether he has a priority need, and

(ii) whether he became homeless or threatened with homelessness intentionally.

(3) If the authority think fit, they may also make inquiries as to whether the person who applied to them has a local connection with the area of another housing authority.

(4) If the authority have reason to believe that the person who applied to them may be homeless and have a priority need, they shall secure that accommodation is made available for his occupation pending any decision which they may make as a result of their inquiries (irrespective of any local connection he may have with the area of another housing authority).