Free Webinar - Intentional Homelessness Update

In this webinar, speakers will review and discuss important aspects of homelessness cases where it is found that the applicant has made themselves “Intentionally Homeless.”

Our panel will also examine the best approaches to arguing these difficult cases, including:

• Repeat applications where previous findings of intentionality - following the case of R (on the application of Ibrahim) v Westminster Council [2022] HLR 13
• What amounts to a “deliberate act”, particularly where mental health issues arise?
• What is the correct test/approach on causation?
• Affordability cases where applicants lost properties due to rent arrears.
• The limits to the protection afforded by section 191(2) “good faith” “unaware of a relevant fact”. 

Speakers

David Renton, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
David Renton specialises in housing, discrimination and employment law. David acts for tenants and mortgagors in possession hearings, mainly where possession is defended on Equality Act, human rights or public law grounds. David is also regularly instructed in disrepair cases in the county court and magistrates' courts, carrying out work under both legal aid and no-win-no-fee agreements. He also appears in homelessness appeals under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996, in occupation orders, and in related cases involving the overlap of housing and family law.

Edward Fitzpatrick, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Edward is a specialist housing barrister with a particular interest in homelessness appeals, public law challenges and cases involving Human Rights and Equality Act issues. Edward also undertakes a range of regulatory and property law cases. 

Edward seeks to provide effective representations for applicants/tenants in all spheres of housing and related work, adopting a measured and pragmatic approach. Edwards covers homelessness cases including the full panoply of challenges that can be made from eligibility to discharge of duty. He is ranked for Social Housing in both the Legal 500 2023 in Tier 1 and Chambers UK Bar Guide 2023.

Georgie Rea, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Georgie has a detailed knowledge of possession proceedings, having previously worked as a self-employed County Court Advocate. She regularly conducts work across all areas of housing law, including homelessness, possession and disrepair, in addition to accommodation-related aspects of community care law. She provides practical advice relating to directions, evidence and creative settlement solutions in complex cases. Georgie has successfully defended possession claims brought by both private and public landlords, on statutory and public law grounds.