Homes and Communities Agency

The complainant submitted two request about leases. The Homes & Communities Agency originally refused the requests because it claimed that the cost of compliance would exceed the appropriate limit. The complainant then refined both requests and, once clarified, all the requested information was supplied. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Homes & Communities Agency issued a refusal notice, which complied with section 17 of the FOIA, within 20 working days of the both requests having been made. It was entitled to treat both refined requests as a fresh requests, entitled to seek clarification in respect of both requests and responded to both clarified requests within 20 working days – thus complying with its duties under section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner does not require any further steps.