Intentional Homelessness
A finding under s.191 Housing Act 1996 that a person deliberately did, or failed to do, something which caused them to lose accommodation it would have been reasonable for them to continue occupying. A person found intentionally homeless is not owed the full 'main housing duty', though a lesser duty to help may still apply.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
The statutory test is precise about both the act and the counterfactual it is measured against: 'A person becomes homeless intentionally if he deliberately does or fails to do anything in consequence of which he ceases to occupy accommodation which is available for his occupation and which it would have been reasonable for him to continue to occupy.' Both limbs matter — the loss of accommodation must be a deliberate act or omission, and separately, staying in that accommodation must have been something it would have been reasonable to do; someone who leaves genuinely unreasonable accommodation is not intentionally homeless just because leaving was, in a narrow sense, a choice.
The Act also carves out a specific protection connected to poor-quality supported housing: a person does not become homeless intentionally where the accommodation they leave is 'supported exempt accommodation', their reason for leaving 'relates to the standard of the accommodation, or the standard of care, support or supervision provided there', and that accommodation or support 'does not meet National Supported Housing Standards.' A finding of intentional homelessness does not end a council's involvement altogether — it removes entitlement to the full main housing duty under section 193, but other, more limited duties (such as advice and assistance) can still apply.
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.