The Department has issued statutory guidance to local authorities about responding to tenants of private landlords who apply to the local authority for housing assistance following receipt of a notice of intention to recover possession from their landlord. The guidance, at paragraph 8.30 et seq of the ‘Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities’, was issued in July 2006. The code of guidance is available in the House of Commons Library and on this Department's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/homelessnesscode.