Refusing an offer of temporary accommodation
If you feel that an offer of temporary accommodation we have made to you is unsuitable, you can request a review of our offer. Issues we will take into consideration as part of a review include:
- You have physical access requirements and the accommodation we have offered cannot support your needs (e.g. wheelchair access).
- You need to access specialist facilities (such as medical support) and the accommodation is too far away.
- The accommodation would place you in financial hardship - for example you will not be able to reach your place of work using public transport.
- Members of your household need access to specialist schooling or are going through exam periods (e.g. GCSE or A level) and a change or break to their schooling due to the travel distance from the accommodation will cause hardship.
We are very unlikely to take into consideration your desire to be close to family or friends, unless they are supporting you on a regular basis within your accommodation on medical/clinical grounds - you will need to provide evidence of this.
If you would like to request a review of a temporary accommodation offer, please write to housing.options@lichfielddc.gov.uk within 21 days of the offer being made to you stating why the offer is not suitable and providing any necessary evidence. The review will be carried out by a senior housing officer not involved in your case.
If your review is unsuccessful, our legal duty to secure further temporary accommodation can be brought to an end under S193 of the Housing Act 1996, and you will then have to make your own temporary accommodation arrangements until such time as a longer-term home becomes available, either through the housing register (if you are eligible) or other suitable avenues, such as private rented.