Priority Housing Need

Section 189(1) of the Housing Act 1996 states that an applicant will be accepted as having a priority need for housing if any of the following apply:

1. The applicant is a pregnant woman or person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;

2. The applicant is a person with whom dependant children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside;

3. The applicant is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental health or handicap or physical disability or other special reasons, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside;

4. The applicant is homeless, or threatened with homelessness, as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster;

5. The applicant is aged sixteen or seventeen and is not a relevant child or a child in need to whom a local authority owes a duty under section 20 of the Children Act 1989;

6. The applicant is under 21 and has been (but is no longer) looked after, accommodated or fostered between the ages of 16 and 18 (except a person who is a relevant student);

7. The applicant is aged 21 or more and is vulnerable as a result of having been looked after, accommodated or fostered (except by a person who is a relevant student);

8. The applicant is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty's regular naval, military or air forces;

9. The applicant is vulnerable as a result of i) having served a custodial sentence ii) having been committed for contempt of court or any other kindred offence, or iii) having been remanded in custody;

10. The applicant is vulnerable as a result of ceasing to occupy accommodation because of violence from another person or threats from another person which are likely to be carried out.