CA-2024-001940 - [2025] EWCA Civ 1355

The issue on this appeal is the lawfulness of an out of borough placement made available to an applicant for homelessness assistance. There are two substantive grounds of challenge. First, it is alleged that the London Borough of Enfield (“Enfield”) failed to search for available accommodation closer to the applicant’s former home than the accommodation which was in fact made available. Second, it is said that Enfield failed to comply with its statutory duty to notify the local authority in whose district the applicant was placed within the statutory time limit. If either or both these challenges are well-founded, there is potentially a further issue about the relief that the court can grant.