146.Section 93 of the 2014 Act places a requirement on a local housing authority to take reasonable steps to prevent the loss of, or prevent or mitigate damage to, the personal property of an applicant who is owed a duty under section 66, 68, 75 or 82 of the 2014 Act (as amended by the Act) if no suitable arrangements have been made or are being made to protect the property and it believes there is a danger that the property will be lost or damaged by reason of the applicant’s inability to protect it or deal with it. A local housing authority continues to be subject to this duty even if the duties under section 66, 68, 75 or 82 come to an end.
147.This section amends section 93 of the 2014 Act to provide that the duty in section 93 applies to individuals while in custody even though the individual is not entitled to help under section 75 of the 2014 Act (as inserted by the Act) because the individual is in custody and has no reasonable prospect of release within six months (see section 75(7) inserted by this Act).
Commentary on Sections Part 1 - Homelessness Section 25: Protection of property: prisoners