Legal News

Hackney Council in east London is to introduce new rules on rough sleeping in the borough, to try and reduce the amount of antisocial behaviour associated with rough sleepers.

Under the new rules, homeless people who are forced to sleep on the street could face fines of up to £1,000.

The fines will apply to those who sleep in doorways near tourist spots – many rough sleepers choose well-populated and busy areas to sleep because they feel safer.

However, Hackney Council’s Public Space Protection Order will ban rough sleepers anywhere in the borough.

On the spot fines of £100 could be handed out to those caught sleeping rough – which may be increased to £1,000 if a case goes to court.

Local authorities have a legal duty to house homeless people, including people who have lost their home through eviction or because their home was repossessed by a mortgage lender.

Some of those who end up sleeping on the streets are former soldiers unable to adjust to civilian life.

Young adults who have been forced to leave home because of abuse or a breakdown in family relationships may also end up living on the street or sleeping rough if they are unable to access hostel accommodation.

Homeless charities have condemned the council’s new policy on homeless people, saying that it would criminalise the homeless.

Spokesman for the homelessness charity Crisis, Matt Downie, said:

“Rough sleepers deserve better than to be treated as a nuisance – they may have suffered a relationship breakdown, a bereavement or domestic abuse.

“Those who sleep on the streets are extremely vulnerable and often do not know where to turn for help.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors are a leading provider of Legal Aid housing services and can advise on local authority housing and the council’s legal duty to re-house under Section 193 of the Housing Act.

Duncan Lewis can also advise social housing tenants and private sector rental tenants on a wide range of housing matters, including:

• Antisocial behaviour
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right-to-Buy
• Section 146 Notice (notice to quit)
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.