Good and sufficient reasons for declining offer of a property

To decide if a client has a good and sufficient reason for declining the offer of a property, you need to consider the information provided by the housing provider and the client. Each case should be considered on its merits.

Where the information provided or reasons given for declining an offer conflict, or cannot be agreed, the client should generally be given the benefit of the doubt.

You need to consider whether the client had a good and sufficient reason to decline the property offer (including any alternative or additional reasons given). You must consider the following:

• does the offered property meet the assessed needs (property requirements) of the client (or any other person included in the offer):
  • does the offered property have the correct number of bedrooms for the client?
  • does the design and layout cater for the needs of the client eg modified bathrooms, wide enough doorways, flat section, living area fit for purpose?
  • do the features of the property meet the client's disability needs, needs of children, or specific needs due to being elderly?
  • is the fencing appropriate to meet the needs of the client?
  • is the offered property within reasonable proximity and access to the client's essential services eg medical services, public transport, and where appropriate schools and early childhood centres?
  • is the offered property within reasonable proximity and access to the client's workplace either via private or public transport?
• will requiring the client to accept the offer (in your opinion) have an adverse effect on the health, well-being, or safety of the client?
• is the offered property unsuitable because of any court, bail, or release conditions which would prevent the client from living in the property
• was the client offered the opportunity to view the interior of the property before deciding whether to accept?
• are there any other reasons given by the client that you considered are a good reason to decline the offered property?

Note in the above list reference to client includes any other person included in the offer.

Person included in the offer, means a person who, when the offer was made, the agency understood would be living in the offered property with the person to whom the offer was made. The person included in the offer would be:

• an applicable person
• a dependent child of the client or any person included in the offer
• an additional occupant of the offered property

When you are satisfied that the client has a good and sufficient reason, the decline will be recorded as having a good and sufficient reason.

This means that the reason for decline does not count against the client.

For more information see: