How many private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council

The request was refused by Leicester City Council.

Dear Leicester City Council,
We have been made aware of the rising numbers of homelessness and the further restrictions on homelessness services over recent years including the closure of several Leicester City Council owned/operated hostels and temporary accommodation facilities. As such, we would like an answer to the following questions to understand Leicester City Council's reliance on private sector landlords and the private rented sector as a whole for the provision of temporary accommodation:

1) On average, how many homelessness applications are made that result in Leicester City Council providing temporary accommodation that is owned by private sector landlords per month?

2) How many of these households who make homelessness applications that result in them being offered temporary accommodation live in accommodation that isn't owned by Leicester City Council?

3) What is the average occupancy as a percentage per month of temporary accommodation that is not owned by Leicester City Council?

4) What is the average cost per night for the provision of temporary accommodation that is not owned by Leicester City Council for a single person, a couple and a family?

4.1) What is the average cost of providing temporary accommodation in the private sector overall per month?

5) How many properties are being used for the provision of temporary accommodation by Leicester City Council which Leicester City Council doesn't own? Excluding those owned by housing associations such as PA Housing, Midland Heart, etc.

6) How many properties that aren't owned by Leicester City Council but are being used by Leicester City Council for the provision of temporary accommodation are residential properties (eg. flats, houses, bungalows, etc)? Excluding those owned by housing associations such as PA Housing, Midland Heart, etc.

7) How many properties that aren't owned by Leicester City Council but are being used by Leicester City Council for the provision of temporary accommodation are non-residential properties (eg. hotel rooms, adapted commercial spaces, night shelters/hostels, etc)? Excluding those owned by housing associations such as PA Housing, Midland Heart, etc.

Yours faithfully,
Andrew Hill
Harry Albert Lettings & Estates

info-requests, Leicester City Council

Website:                        [1]www.leicester.gov.uk

E-mail:                            [2][Leicester City Council request email]   

Our Ref:                          FOI 18336

Date:                               7^th May 2019

 

Mr Andrew Hill

[3][FOI #574635 email]

 

Dear Mr Hill,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

 

Thank you for your 3 emails of 6^th May 2019 requesting information about
homelessness.

 

Your requests are being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days. 

 

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Baljeet Kaur

Information Governance Apprentice

Information Governance and Risk

Legal Services

4^th Floor, Rutland Wing

City Hall

115 Charles Street

LE1 1FZ

References

Visible links
1. http://www.leicester.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

Website:                        [1]www.leicester.gov.uk

E-mail:                            [2][Leicester City Council request email]   

Our Ref:                          FOI 18336

Date:                               7^th May 2019

 

Mr Andrew Hill

[3][FOI #574635 email]

 

Dear Mr Hill,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

 

Thank you for your 3 emails of 6^th May 2019 requesting information about
homelessness.

 

Your requests are being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days. 

 

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Baljeet Kaur

Information Governance Apprentice

Information Governance and Risk

Legal Services

4^th Floor, Rutland Wing

City Hall

115 Charles Street

LE1 1FZ

References

Visible links
1. http://www.leicester.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

Website:                        [1]www.leicester.gov.uk

E-mail:                            [2][Leicester City Council request email]   

Our Ref:                          FOI 18336

Date:                               7^th May 2019

 

Mr Andrew Hill

[3][FOI #574635 email]

 

Dear Mr Hill,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

 

Thank you for your 3 emails of 6^th May 2019 requesting information about
homelessness.

 

Your requests are being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days. 

 

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Baljeet Kaur

Information Governance Apprentice

Information Governance and Risk

Legal Services

4^th Floor, Rutland Wing

City Hall

115 Charles Street

LE1 1FZ

References

Visible links
1. http://www.leicester.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Please find attached Leicester City Council’s response to your recent
Freedom of Information request.

 

Regards

 

Pravina Chandarana

Information Governance Officer

Email: [1][Leicester City Council request email]

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Please find attached Leicester City Council’s response to your recent
Freedom of Information request.

 

Regards

 

Pravina Chandarana

Information Governance Officer

Email: [1][Leicester City Council request email]

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Please find attached Leicester City Council’s response to your recent
Freedom of Information request.

 

Regards

 

Pravina Chandarana

Information Governance Officer

Email: [1][Leicester City Council request email]

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]

Dear Leicester City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Leicester City Council's handling of my FOI request 'How many private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council'.

I made two individual requests (three if you include the duplicate) and they have been treated as one request. These requests were individual of each other and had they been treated as such, they'd have taken less than the 450 hours the city council believe is appropriate to spend dealing with the request. It should be a reasonable time allotted for each individual request, rather than both requests being treated as one and the same.

A full history of my FOI requests and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Hill

info-requests, Leicester City Council

E-mail:                                  [1][Leicester City Council request email]

Website:                              [2]www.leicester.gov.uk  

Our Ref:                               Appeal FOI: 18495

Date:                                    30^th May 2019

 

Mr Andrew Hill

[3][FOI #574635 email]

 

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - APPEAL REQUEST

 

Thank you for both your emails of 30^th May 2019 requesting an appeal with
regard to your Freedom of Information request 18336.

 

Please accept this letter as confirmation that I have received your
appeal.  An independent Manager will investigate the matter you have
raised and we shall aim to have a response to you by the 27^th June 2019.

 

Should for any reason my investigation take longer than this I will write
to you explaining the reasons for the delay and let you know when you will
receive a response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Lynn Wyeth

Head of Information Governance & Risk

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]
2. http://www.leicester.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

E-mail:                                  [1][Leicester City Council request email]

Website:                              [2]www.leicester.gov.uk  

Our Ref:                               Appeal FOI: 18495

Date:                                    30^th May 2019

 

Mr Andrew Hill

[3][FOI #574635 email]

 

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - APPEAL REQUEST

 

Thank you for both your emails of 30^th May 2019 requesting an appeal with
regard to your Freedom of Information request 18336.

 

Please accept this letter as confirmation that I have received your
appeal.  An independent Manager will investigate the matter you have
raised and we shall aim to have a response to you by the 27^th June 2019.

 

Should for any reason my investigation take longer than this I will write
to you explaining the reasons for the delay and let you know when you will
receive a response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Lynn Wyeth

Head of Information Governance & Risk

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]
2. http://www.leicester.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]

Iain Harrison, Leicester City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hill

 

Please find the Council’s response attached.

 

Regards

 

Iain Harrison

Information Governance & Risk Manager

Leicester City Council

City Hall, 115 Charles Street

Leicester LE1 1FZ

 

Tel: 0116 454 1300

 

 

 

From: Andrew Hill <[FOI #574635 email]>
Sent: 30 May 2019 11:49
To: info-requests <[Leicester City Council request email]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - How many
private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for
homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council

 

Dear Leicester City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information
reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Leicester City Council's
handling of my FOI request 'How many private dwellings are being used as
temporary accommodation for homelessness applicants that aren't owned by
Leicester City Council'.

I made two individual requests (three if you include the duplicate) and
they have been treated as one request. These requests were individual of
each other and had they been treated as such, they'd have taken less than
the 450 hours the city council believe is appropriate to spend dealing
with the request. It should be a reasonable time allotted for each
individual request, rather than both requests being treated as one and the
same.

A full history of my FOI requests and all correspondence is available on
the Internet at this address:
[1]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Hill

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...
2. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]
3. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
4. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Dear Iain Harrison,

I can appreciate why you are unwilling to provide such crucial information. However, the requests are still being treated as one.

Please treat them as individual requests.

Also, please raise a complaint as I feel our rights as the public are beinh infringed upon by refusing to provide critical information about how the public funds are being spent with respect of the provision of temporary accommodation and homelessness reduction.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Hill

Iain Harrison, Leicester City Council

Dear Mr Hill

 

The Council has issued its response.

 

In summary, the Council’s internal appeals process is now exhausted and
further routes of appeal have been outlined to you, as explained in the
letter.

 

Regards

 

Iain Harrison

Information Governance & Risk Manager

Leicester City Council

City Hall, 115 Charles Street

Leicester LE1 1FZ

 

Tel: 0116 454 1300

 

From: Andrew Hill <[FOI #574635 email]>
Sent: 27 June 2019 16:35
To: Iain Harrison <[email address]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - How many
private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for
homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council

 

Dear Iain Harrison,

I can appreciate why you are unwilling to provide such crucial
information. However, the requests are still being treated as one.

Please treat them as individual requests.

Also, please raise a complaint as I feel our rights as the public are
beinh infringed upon by refusing to provide critical information about how
the public funds are being spent with respect of the provision of
temporary accommodation and homelessness reduction.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Hill

show quoted sections

Dear Iain Harrison,
What do you suggest I do? Raise one individual point in an FOI request, wait for you to respond, then make my second point, wait for you to respond, and so on?

Or is it that Leicester City Council is mismanaging their finances to an extent they can't provide basic information in a simple freedom of information request?

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Hill

Iain Harrison, Leicester City Council

Dear Mr Hill

 

The position in respect of your request and internal review has already
been outlined.

 

If you wish to make further requests for information, you are quite at
liberty to do so.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Iain Harrison

Information Governance & Risk Manager

Leicester City Council

City Hall, 115 Charles Street

Leicester LE1 1FZ

 

Tel: 0116 454 1300

 

 

 

From: Andrew Hill <[FOI #574635 email]>
Sent: 06 August 2019 12:21
To: Iain Harrison <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - How many
private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for
homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council

 

Dear Iain Harrison,
What do you suggest I do? Raise one individual point in an FOI request,
wait for you to respond, then make my second point, wait for you to
respond, and so on?

Or is it that Leicester City Council is mismanaging their finances to an
extent they can't provide basic information in a simple freedom of
information request?

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Hill

show quoted sections

Dear Leicester City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Leicester City Council's handling of my FOI request 'How many private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council'

The information would be available as a result of assessing homelessness reduction schemes.

If this information isn't available, please explain why the city's finances are managed so poorly that you don't know where taxpayer money is being spent.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Hill

Dear Leicester City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Leicester City Council's handling of my FOI request 'How many private dwellings are being used as temporary accommodation for homelessness applicants that aren't owned by Leicester City Council'.

I raised 3 freedom of information requests and they have been treated as one and refused. This is incorrect and falls foul of FOI rules. Each individual request should be dealt with individually and I, along with Leicester taxpayers, expect this to be the case.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Hill

info-requests, Leicester City Council

E-mail:                                  [1][Leicester City Council request email]

Website:                              [2]www.leicester.gov.uk  

Our Ref:                                Appeal FOI: 19055

Date:                                     19^th August 2019

 

Mr Andrew Hill

[3][FOI #574635 email]

 

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - APPEAL REQUEST

 

Thank you for your email of 17^th August 2019 requesting an appeal with
regard to your Freedom of Information request 18336.

 

Please accept this letter as confirmation that I have received your
appeal.  An independent Manager will investigate the matter you have
raised and we shall aim to have a response to you by the 16^th September
2019.

 

Should for any reason my investigation take longer than this I will write
to you explaining the reasons for the delay and let you know when you will
receive a response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Lynn Wyeth

Head of Information Governance & Risk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Leicester City Council request email]
2. http://www.leicester.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[FOI #574635 email]

info-requests, Leicester City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hill,

 

Thank you for your email of 17^th August 2019 in which you are appealing
your response to FOIA 18336.

 

Upon further investigation we have previously issued you with an appeal
response on the 27^th June 2019, reference 18495, which I have attached
for your records.

 

Our response remains the same. The Council’s internal appeals process is
now exhausted and further routes of appeal have been outlined to you, as
explained in the letter.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Information Governance & Risk Team

Leicester City Council,

Legal Services,

4^th Floor, City Hall,

115 Charles Street,

Leicester,

LE1 1FZ