If you lost your home because of something that you deliberately did or failed to do, you may be seen as intentionally homeless. The Housing Executive uses an intentionality test to see if you lost your home as a result of your actions.

You may have problems passing this test if:

• your home was repossessed due to mortgage arrears;
• you had significant rent arrears;
• you were evicted because of antisocial behaviour.

If any of the above applies, the Housing Executive may consider you intentionally homeless and will not have any duty to offer you accommodation.

The Housing Executive must send you a decision letter on your homeless application within 30 days. The letter must include a reason or reasons why the Housing Executive has decided you are not eligible for assistance as a homeless person.

The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

You will not be seen as intentionally homeless if:

• it was not reasonable for you to remain in your last home;
• you left home because of domestic violence or fear of violence;
• you got into arrears because of job loss or wage cut;
• you lost your home which was provided by your previous employers;
• you lost your home because you were not aware of your rights.

Prisoners are often found intentionally homeless if they have lost or given up their tenancy due to rent arrears which were in turn caused by loss of housing benefit once sentenced. Often prisoners may also be deemed intentionally homeless if they were evicted from their previous home for antisocial behaviour.

You may be able to challenge an intentionality decision if you can argue that you did not become homeless deliberately. For instance, that you were trying to keep up with the rent but your change in circumstances made it impossible to keep paying, or that your antisocial behaviour was closely related to a substance misuse for which you are now receiving treatment.

Your resettlement officer or a housing adviser will be able to offer you more detailed advice best suited to your individual circumstances. However, if you wish to find out further details about this hurdle, these are available on the intentionality test page of our main homelessness section.