PART IPROVISION OF HOUSING

Management and allocation of local authority's houses

20Persons to have priority on housing list and allocation of housing

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.