Housing Act 1996

Right to request review of decisionE+W

202 Right to request review of decision.E+W

(1)An applicant has the right to request a review of—

(a)any decision of a local housing authority as to his eligibility for assistance,

(b)any decision of a local housing authority as to what duty (if any) is owed to him under sections 190 to 193 and 195 [F1and 196] (duties to persons found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness),

(c)any decision of a local housing authority to notify another authority under section 198(1) (referral of cases),

(d)any decision under section 198(5) whether the conditions are met for the referral of his case,

(e)any decision under section 200(3) or (4) (decision as to duty owed to applicant whose case is considered for referral or referred), F2...

(f)any decision of a local housing authority as to the suitability of accommodation offered to him in discharge of their duty under any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (b) or (e) [F3or as to the suitability of accommodation offered to him as mentioned in section 193(7)][F4, or

(g)any decision of a local housing authority as to the suitability of accommodation offered to him by way of a private accommodation offer (within the meaning of section 193).]

[F5(1A)An applicant who is offered accommodation as mentioned in section 193(5)[F6, (7) or (7AA)] may under subsection (1)(f) [F7or (as the case may be) (g)] request a review of the suitability of the accommodation offered to him whether or not he has accepted the offer.]

(2)There is no right to request a review of the decision reached on an earlier review.

(3)A request for review must be made before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he is notified of the authority’s decision or such longer period as the authority may in writing allow.

(4)On a request being duly made to them, the authority or authorities concerned shall review their decision.

203 Procedure on a review.E+W

(1)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the procedure to be followed in connection with a review under section 202.

Nothing in the following provisions affects the generality of this power.

(2)Provision may be made by regulations—

(a)requiring the decision on review to be made by a person of appropriate seniority who was not involved in the original decision, and

(b)as to the circumstances in which the applicant is entitled to an oral hearing, and whether and by whom he may be represented at such a hearing.

(3)The authority, or as the case may be either of the authorities, concerned shall notify the applicant of the decision on the review.

(4)If the decision is—

(a)to confirm the original decision on any issue against the interests of the applicant, or

(b)to confirm a previous decision—

(i)to notify another authority under section 198 (referral of cases), or

(ii)that the conditions are met for the referral of his case,

they shall also notify him of the reasons for the decision.

(5)In any case they shall inform the applicant of his right to appeal to a county court on a point of law, and of the period within which such an appeal must be made (see section 204).

(6)Notice of the decision shall not be treated as given unless and until subsection (5), and where applicable subsection (4), is complied with.

(7)Provision may be made by regulations as to the period within which the review must be carried out and notice given of the decision.

(8)Notice required to be given to a person under this section shall be given in writing and, if not received by him, shall be treated as having been given if it is made available at the authority’s office for a reasonable period for collection by him or on his behalf.

204 Right of appeal to county court on point of law.E+W

(1)If an applicant who has requested a review under section 202—

(a)is dissatisfied with the decision on the review, or

(b)is not notified of the decision on the review within the time prescribed under section 203,

he may appeal to the county court on any point of law arising from the decision or, as the case may be, the original decision.

(2)An appeal must be brought within 21 days of his being notified of the decision or, as the case may be, of the date on which he should have been notified of a decision on review.

[F8(2A)The court may give permission for an appeal to be brought after the end of the period allowed by subsection (2), but only if it is satisfied—

(a)where permission is sought before the end of that period, that there is a good reason for the applicant to be unable to bring the appeal in time; or

(b)where permission is sought after that time, that there was a good reason for the applicant’s failure to bring the appeal in time and for any delay in applying for permission.]

(3)On appeal the court may make such order confirming, quashing or varying the decision as it thinks fit.

(4)Where the authority were under a duty under section 188, 190 or 200 to secure that accommodation is available for the applicant’s occupation [F9, or had the power under section 195(8) to do so, they may] secure that accommodation is so available—

(a)during the period for appealing under this section against the authority’s decision, and

(b)if an appeal is brought, until the appeal (and any further appeal) is finally determined.

[F10204A Section 204(4): appealsE+W

(1)This section applies where an applicant has the right to appeal to the county court against a local housing authority’s decision on a review.

(2)If the applicant is dissatisfied with a decision by the authority—

(a)not to exercise their power under section 204(4) (“the section 204(4) power”) in his case;

(b)to exercise that power for a limited period ending before the final determination by the county court of his appeal under section 204(1) (“the main appeal”); or

(c)to cease exercising that power before that time,

he may appeal to the county court against the decision.

(3)An appeal under this section may not be brought after the final determination by the county court of the main appeal.

(4)On an appeal under this section the court—

(a)may order the authority to secure that accommodation is available for the applicant’s occupation until the determination of the appeal (or such earlier time as the court may specify); and

(b)shall confirm or quash the decision appealed against,

and in considering whether to confirm or quash the decision the court shall apply the principles applied by the High Court on an application for judicial review.

(5)If the court quashes the decision it may order the authority to exercise the section 204(4) power in the applicant’s case for such period as may be specified in the order.

(6)An order under subsection (5)—

(a)may only be made if the court is satisfied that failure to exercise the section 204(4) power in accordance with the order would substantially prejudice the applicant’s ability to pursue the main appeal;

(b)may not specify any period ending after the final determination by the county court of the main appeal.]