Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977

4 Duties of housing authorities to homeless persons and persons threatened with homelessness

(1) If a housing authority are satisfied, as a result of inquiries under section 3 above, that a person who has applied to them for accommodation or for assistance in obtaining accommodation is homeless or threatened with homelessness, they shall be subject to a duty towards him under this section.

(2) Where—

(a) they are not satisfied that he has a priority need, or

(b) they are satisfied that he has a priority need but are also satisfied that he became homeless or threatened with homelessness intentionally,

their duty is to furnish him with advice and appropriate assistance.

(3) Where—

(a) they are satisfied that he is homeless, and

(b) they are subject to a duty towards him by virtue of subsection (2)(b) above,

they shall secure that accommodation is made available for his occupation for such period as they consider will give him a reasonable opportunity of himself securing accommodation for his occupation.

(4) Where—

(a) they are satisfied—

(i) that he is threatened with homelessness, and

(ii) that he has a priority need, but

(b) they are not satisfied that he became threatened with homelessness intentionally,

their duty, subject to subsection (6) below, is to take reasonable steps to secure that accommodation does not cease to be available for his occupation.

(5) Where—

(a) they are satisfied—

(i) that he is homeless, and

(ii) that he has a priority need, but

(b) they are not satisfied that he became homeless intentionally,

their duty, subject to section 5 below, is to secure that accommodation becomes available for his occupation.

(6) Nothing in subsection (4) above shall affect any right of a housing authority to secure vacant possession of accommodation, whether by virtue of a contract or of any enactment or rule of law.