Gender reassignment and adequacy of inquiries in homelessness cases (Biden v Waverley Borough Council)

Article summary

Local Government analysis: Mrs Biden, a transgender woman who has disabilities, applied to Waverley Borough Council (the Council) for assistance as a homeless person. When the Council offered her a housing association property, she refused it and argued that it was not suitable. She rejected it in part because, as a transgender woman who had been the victim of hate crimes in the past, she argued that she was frightened to be in remote unfamiliar areas. The Council made inquiries of a local police community support officer (PCSO) who stated that there was no risk to a transgender person from living in the local area. The Council decided therefore that the property was suitable. Mrs Biden argued that such inquiries were insufficient and that the Council should have sought the advice of a police LGBT liaison officer. The Court of Appeal rejected that argument, holding that the Council’s inquiries were adequate in the circumstances and complied with...