Catherine Rowlands
Catherine Rowlands has a practice which covers all aspects of public law, especially social housing, community care, and immigration, together with property and other civil litigation.
She is a robust and tenacious advocate with substantial experience at all levels from the Magistrates' Court to the Supreme Court, where she has appeared in some of the most important cases in housing law. Cases include
Hotak v Southwark LBC, Johnson v Solihull MBC [2015] UKSC 30: the Supreme Court's consideration of vulnerability and priority need
Birmingham City Council v Ali et al [2009] UKHL 36: whether accommodation is suitable depends on the period of time for which the person is to be expected to remain there
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council v Hickin [2012] UKSC 39: succession to a secure joint tenancy
Sandwell MBC v Hensley [2007] EWCA Civ 1425: a tenant who has used his home as a cannabis farm must show good reasons why he should be allowed to remain in the property. a vague promise of "a new leaf" is not enough.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 1992
Membership
- SHLA
- ALBA
Education
- Kings College London, and Universit de Paris I (Pentheon-Sorbonne), joint Anglo-French law degr
2 Contributions by Catherine Rowlands
PRACTICE NOTES
Local connection in homelessness: statutory criteria, inter-authority referrals, placements outside district, and dispute/review mechanisms (England and Wales)
This Practice Note sets out guidance on the idea of ‘local connection’ as contained in section 199 of the Housing Act 1996 (HA 1996) for England and section 81 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (H(W)A 2014) for Wales, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (HRA 2017) with effect from 3 April 2018. The concept supports local housing authorities (LHAs) in handling housing applications by allowing referrals to other LHAs where an applicant lacks a local connection with the authority first approached. Its purpose is to avoid any single LHA being overwhelmed by applications. This Practice Note also outlines the relevant legislation and guidance in both England and Wales. Statutory guidance for England was published on 22 February 2018 to coincide with HRA 2017 coming into force on 3 April 2018.
Importance of local connection
A homeless person (the applicant) may seek housing assistance from any LHA. However, this does not oblige the authority that receives the approach to provide assistance. Where the LHA has undertaken the requisite enquiries under HA 1996, s 184 and is satisfied that the...
Local Government
PRACTICE NOTES
Suitability of accommodation for homeless applicants: assessment criteria, equality, affordability, location, PRS offers, B&B limits and review and appeal (England and Wales)
This Practice Note outlines guidance on the standards expected of accommodation provided by a local housing authority (LHA) when fulfilling its housing duty under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (HA 1996), including how suitability is evaluated. For details on how an applicant might challenge suitability, see Practice Note: Homelessness review and appeal. Statutory guidance was published on 22 February 2018 to align with the commencement of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 on 3 April 2018, and is updated on a regular basis. Throughout this Practice Note, that guidance is termed the ‘Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities’ (the Code).
Discharging the housing duty
All accommodation arranged by an LHA in performance of its housing duties under HA 1996, Pt VII must be suitable. This includes accommodation obtained in exercise of an LHA’s interim powers and duties, such as the duty in HA 1996, s 188(1) to secure accommodation pending a final determination of the duty owed to a potentially homeless applicant, and the relief duty in HA 1996, s 189B (see Practice Note: Homelessness—Interim duties). It also extends to accommodation sourced by the LHA from another person, in meeting its duties under HA 1996, Pt VII accordingly...
Local Government
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