Summary
The claimant came to the UK to seek employment but could not get work. The council found him intentionally homeless for leaving his home overseas. On appeal, he said that he had acted in good faith and in ignorance of the true job situation in Birmingham. Both the county court and the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal. A misunderstanding about job opportunities could only constitute "ignorance of a relevant fact" for the purposes of Housing Act 1996 section 191(1) if it was a specific job prospect not a mere hope of getting work. Brooke LJ's judgment contains helpful statements about the need to supply applicant's advisers with a copy of the council file so that they can make informed representations on homelessness reviews.
This is from Garden Court Chambers
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