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.