Housing Act 1996

159 Allocation of housing accommodation.E+W

(1)A local housing authority shall comply with the provisions of this Part in allocating housing accommodation.

(2)For the purposes of this Part a local housing authority allocate housing accommodation when they—

(a)select a person to be a secure or introductory tenant of housing accommodation held by them,

(b)nominate a person to be a secure or introductory tenant of housing accommodation held by another person, or

(c)nominate a person to be an assured tenant of housing accommodation held by [F1a private registered provider of social housing or] a registered social landlord.

(3)The reference in subsection (2)(a) to selecting a person to be a secure tenant includes deciding to exercise any power to notify an existing tenant or licensee that his tenancy or licence is to be a secure tenancy.

(4)The references in subsection (2)(b) and (c) to nominating a person include nominating a person in pursuance of any arrangements (whether legally enforceable or not) to require that housing accommodation, or a specified amount of housing accommodation, is made available to a person or one of a number of persons nominated by the authority.

[F2(5)The provisions of this Part do not apply to an allocation of housing accommodation to a person who is already a secure or introductory tenant unless the allocation involves a transfer of housing accommodation for that person and is made on his application.]

(7)Subject to the provisions of this Part, a local housing authority may allocate housing accommodation in such manner as they consider appropriate.

Textual Amendments

F2S. 159(5) substituted (27.1.2003 for W. and 31.1.2003 for E.) for s. 159(5)(6) by 2002 c. 7, s. 13 (with s. 20(4)); S.I. 2002/1736, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 2002/3114, art. 3