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Response A1346242

Response to request for information

Reference

A1346242

Response date

20 January 2022

Request

  • Does the Council use the power under s206(2) Housing Act 1996 to charge homeless people for temporary accommodation?
  • Does the Council hold any policies or internal guidance documents relating to charges for temporary accommodation, including on what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ charge in relation to s206(2) Housing Act 1996. If so, what is the content of the policies of guidance?
  • If the Council has charged homeless people for temporary accommodation, please provide information on the following for the past calendar year:
  • The number of people charged.
  • The total income received by the Council from any charges.
  • How many people paid such charges directly to the Council, rather than via charges taken directly from Universal Credit or other social security entitlements.
  • What, if any, is the total outstanding debt owed to the Council for temporary accommodation charges currently owed?

Response

  • Does the Council use the power under s206(2) Housing Act 1996 to charge homeless people for temporary accommodation?
    • Yes
  • Does the Council hold any policies or internal guidance documents relating to charges for temporary accommodation, including on what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ charge in relation to s206(2) Housing Act 1996. If so, what is the content of the policies of guidance?
    • No
  • If the Council has charged homeless people for temporary accommodation, please provide information on the following for the past calendar year:
    • The number of people charged - 55 from 1 April 2021 to 14 January 2022.
    • The total income received by the Council from any charges - £76,565 (includes both rent and service charges) figure as of 31 December 2021.
  • How many people paid such charges directly to the Council, rather than via charges taken directly from Universal Credit or other social security entitlements.
    • 55. The council receives housing benefit directly however all applicants are required to pay a service charge directly to the council.
  • What, if any, is the total outstanding debt owed to the Council for temporary accommodation charges currently owed?
    • £2017.98 - as of 9th January 2022 (Note this figures includes cases waiting for their Housing Benefit claim to be processed).

FOI Responses Housing 2022