Croydon Council in court over homelessness service closure

The move comes after a High Court judge ruled there was limited evidence that Croydon Council had put sufficient alternatives in place for residents unable to book appointments online. The authority’s decision will now be subject to a judicial review.

Concerns about access to housing services have been raised previously. Last year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to residents who said they were forced to queue outside the council’s Bernard Weatherill House headquarters, close to the busy Croydon Flyover, in order to secure housing appointments.

A charity support worker also described the arrangements as “chaotic” and “dehumanising” for vulnerable families seeking help.

The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), which is representing the claimant, argues that the closure of Access Croydon has reduced access to emergency housing support for people in crisis. The organisation says the outcome of the case could have important consequences for the delivery of homelessness services across London and beyond.

At the Royal Courts of Justice on July 7, District Judge Alan Bates granted permission for the legal challenge to proceed. The case centres on Croydon Council’s decision to close its walk-in homelessness service on Mint Walk in March 2025, a move approved by then chief executive Katherine Kerswell at a meeting attended by Mayor Jason Perry.

Jason Perry was elected as Croydon's first Executive Mayor in May 2022

The PILC launched the claimant’s High Court challenge last year, arguing that the council breached its legal duty to homeless people by closing its walk-in service and unfairly disadvantaged digitally excluded residents by moving applications online. It also argued that the decision was made behind closed doors, without a written record, in breach of local authority regulations and Croydon’s own constitution.

The applicant’s counsel, Tom Hickman KC, told the court how the claimant first attempted to engage with Croydon’s homelessness services after receiving a Section 21 eviction notice last year. He argued that the claimant’s learning disabilities and illiteracy meant he was unable to access the alternative arrangements the council had put in place, namely an online form that residents could use to book housing advice appointments.

The court heard that the council offers support for people who are “digitally excluded” (unable to access the internet) by directing residents to its libraries, where they can use computers. They can also seek support from staff there and speak to advice specialists at the council’s central library, just a short walk from Access Croydon.

However, DJ Bates criticised the lack of detail provided about these alternative measures, telling the court: “They say this individual would be assisted by council officers, but it is not said who these officers will be or how they will be accessed.”

He also said it was not clear whether library staff had been given training that “specifically enables them to provide assistance to people seeking homelessness assistance”.

Furthermore, the council’s reliance on telephone appointments was also questioned, with DJ Bates acknowledging that a high percentage of calls go unanswered while other residents are left waiting “hours” on hold.

Members of the public are now made to wait outside the Council's Fell Road entrance until security guards let them in for their appointment

Counsel for the local authority reminded the court that the applicant was never actually homeless and argued the judicial review was academic and too narrow to apply to people in other situations across Croydon. However, DJ Bates disagreed, saying the continued closure was still affecting residents and had a potential to affect others in a similar situation.

At the time, Croydon described the closure of the walk-in homelessness service as “a change in how the council supports people at its front door” and acknowledged that the decision was driven by high demand and financial pressures.

Announcing the closure, Mayor Perry said: “The current walk-in service means that, at this time of extreme demand, too often residents are waiting too long to get the help that they need.”

He added: “With an appointments system we can triage to make sure we are prioritising appropriately. And knowing exactly who is coming into council buildings, and when, helps to run things as efficiently as possible whilst keeping everyone safe.”

Croydon’s decision to close its walk-in service is part of a wider trend across London. A recent investigation by King’s College London found that only three of London’s 33 local authorities continue to offer face-to-face drop-in services for people experiencing homelessness.

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Commenting on the resident’s case, Alexandra Goldenberg of the PILC said: “In the middle of a housing crisis, Croydon Council has closed their walk-in services. These barriers risk creating discriminatory access to homelessness services, leaving many vulnerable people unable to obtain the support to which they so desperately need and are legally entitled.”

Permission for a judicial review into the legality of the closure was granted on four of the five grounds brought by the claimant. Croydon now has until September 7 to submit detailed grounds of defence, along with any further evidence it wishes to rely on. The claimant will then have until September 21 to respond.

A date for the judicial review hearing has not yet been set.