The case involved a person of Irish Traveller descent and a Kurd of Turkish nationality who had been awarded refugee status in April 2013. Both claimed that they could not satisfy the ten–year residence requirement of the Social Housing Allocation Policy of the Borough of Hillingdon, which they needed in order to receive housing.
It is now for the Borough of Hillingdon to devise a rule that is fairer to Irish Travellers and refugees. It was suggested that the Borough could introduce a different residence requirement for persons who have no fixed abode.
Jamie Burton, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers who represented one of the appellants, said: “Refugees and Irish Travellers have long since faced acute housing problems and this is an important decision that seeks to prevent them from facing further disadvantage.”
The decision does not guarantee housing for Irish Travellers and refugees, but it does level the playing field. The case also raises questions about other local authorities’ housing policies.
The judgement is available here.