Law digests: 6 February 2026

Child

R (on the application of CLT by his litigation friend CLA) v Hounslow London Borough Council [2026] EWHC 162 (Admin)

The Administrative Court allowed a judicial review claim brought by the claimant, CLT, a 16-year-old child, challenging the defendant London Borough of Hounslow’s failure to recognise him as ‘looked after’ and ‘eligible’ child status, engaging duties under ss 22 to 22G of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989). The court found that following the death of the claimant’s father in November 2020, the local authority owed him duties under s 20(1), ChA 1989 to provide accommodation as there was no person with parental responsibility for him. The court rejected the local authority’s contention that a private fostering arrangement with a distant cousin obviated that duty, finding that the authority had played a ‘major role’ in arranging the claimant’s care and had effectively provided accommodation by allowing him to remain in council property despite having no legal right to it. The court held that where a local authority allowed a child