Housing Act 1996

[F2160A Allocation only to eligible persons[F1: Wales] E+W

(1)A local housing authority [F3in Wales] shall not allocate housing accommodation—

(a)to a person from abroad who is ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation by virtue of subsection (3) or (5);

(b)to a person who the authority have decided is to be treated as ineligible for such an allocation by virtue of subsection (7); or

(c)to two or more persons jointly if any of them is a person mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(2)Except as provided by subsection (1), any person may be allocated housing accommodation by a local housing authority [F4in Wales] (whether on his application or otherwise).

(3)A person subject to immigration control within the meaning of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 (c. 49) is (subject to subsection (6)) ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation by a local housing authority [F5in Wales] unless he is of a class prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(4)No person who is excluded from entitlement to [F6universal credit or] housing benefit by section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33) (exclusion from benefits) shall be included in any class prescribed under subsection (3).

(5)The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe other classes of persons from abroad who are (subject to subsection (6)) ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation, either in relation to local housing authorities [F7in Wales] generally or any particular local housing authority [F8in Wales].

(6)Nothing in subsection (3) or (5) affects the eligibility of a person who is already [F9a contract-holder in relation to housing accommodation allocated to that person by a local housing authority in Wales.] F10...

F10(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)A local housing authority [F11in Wales] may decide that an applicant is to be treated as ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation by them if they are satisfied that—

(a)he, or a member of his household, has been guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to make him unsuitable to be a tenant of the authority; and

(b)in the circumstances at the time his application is considered, he is unsuitable to be a tenant of the authority by reason of that behaviour.

(8)The only behaviour which may be regarded by the authority as unacceptable for the purposes of subsection (7)(a) is [F12behaviour of the person concerned which would (if that person were a contract-holder of the authority) breach section 55 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1) (anti-social behaviour and other prohibited conduct).] F13...

F13(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13(aa). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9)If a local housing authority [F14in Wales] decide that an applicant for housing accommodation—

(a)is ineligible for an allocation by them by virtue of subsection (3) or (5); or

(b)is to be treated as ineligible for such an allocation by virtue of subsection (7),

they shall notify the applicant of their decision and the grounds for it.

(10)That notice shall be given in writing and, if not received by the applicant, shall be treated as having been given if it is made available at the authority’s office for a reasonable period for collection by him or on his behalf.

(11)A person who is being treated by a local housing authority [F15in Wales] as ineligible by virtue of subsection (7) may (if he considers that he should no longer be treated as ineligible by the authority [F15in Wales]) make a fresh application to the authority [F15in Wales] for an allocation of housing accommodation by them.]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 160A heading inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(a), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F2S. 160A and cross-heading inserted (5.12.2002 for the purpose of making regulations and 31.1.2003 otherwise, E.; 27.1.2003 for W.) by 2002 c. 7, s. 14(2) (with s. 20(4)); S.I. 2002/3114, arts. 2, 3; S.I. 2002/1736, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2

F3Words in s. 160A(1) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(b), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F4Words in s. 160A(2) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(c), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F5Words in s. 160A(3) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(d), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F7Words in s. 160A(5) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(e)(i), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F8Words in s. 160A(5) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(e)(ii), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F11Words in s. 160A(7) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(g), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F14Words in s. 160A(9) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(h), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

F15Words in s. 160A(11) inserted (15.1.2012 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 146(2)(i), 240(2); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(k) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/1463, art. 3

Modifications etc. (not altering text)