Petitions/Ban councils from discharging housing duty if person refuses long distance offer
StatusClosed
Opened3 Dec 2025
Closes3 Jun 2026
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

Ban local councils from designating people as “intentionally homeless” and relieving themselves of their duty if someone refuses an offer of housing more than 90 minutes away. Councils should be able to make long distance offers, but such offers would not discharge their duty.

Many councils are under pressure to find housing for those who need it and may use “take it or leave it” offers, where people may be told that refusals could mean they are making themselves “intentionally homeless.” This can result in an offer of temporary or permanent housing over 200 miles away, where people may be forced to choose between being homeless or moving somewhere unfamiliar with no support, which may disrupt children's education and force them to quit their jobs.

1,142Total signatures
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Constituency engagement ranking

Steve Reed
1Steve Reed MP
Streatham and Croydon North
24
Joe Powell
2Joe Powell MP
Kensington and Bayswater
23
John McDonnell
3John McDonnell MP
Hayes and Harlington
21
Natasha Irons
4Natasha Irons MP
Croydon East
20
Dr Rupa Huq
5Dr Rupa Huq MP
Ealing Central and Acton
20
Deirdre Costigan
6Deirdre Costigan MP
Ealing Southall
20
Feryal Clark
7Feryal Clark MP
Enfield North
19
Sir Keir Starmer
8Sir Keir Starmer MP
Holborn and St Pancras
19
Janet Daby
9Janet Daby MP
Lewisham East
18
Liam Conlon
10Liam Conlon MP
Beckenham and Penge
17
Ban councils from discharging housing duty if person refuses long distance offer — Petitions