(1)A local authority shall, in relation to all houses held by them for housing purposes, secure that in the selection of their tenants a reasonable preference is given—
(a)to persons who—
(i)are occupying houses which do not meet the tolerable standard; or
(ii)are occupying overcrowded houses; or
(iii)have large families; or
(iv)are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions; and
(b)to persons to whom they have a duty under sections 31 to 34 (homeless persons).
(2)In the allocation of local authority housing a local authority—
(a)shall take no account of—
(i)the length of time for which an applicant has resided in its area; or
(ii)any outstanding liability (for payment of rent or otherwise) attributable to the tenancy of any house of which the applicant is not, and was not when the liability accrued, a tenant; or
(iii)any of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 19(1); and
(b)shall not impose a requirement—
(i)that an application must have remained in force for a minimum period; or
(ii)that a divorce or judicial separation be obtained; or
(iii)that the applicant no longer be living with, or in the same house as, some other person,
before the applicant is eligible for the allocation of housing.