Part 2Regulation of Social Housing

Chapter 1Introduction

Preliminary

61Restriction of “registered social landlord” system to Wales

(1)

Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) (social rented sector) is amended as follows (and the title of Part 1 becomes “Social Rented Sector in Wales”).

(2)

Before section 1 (register of social landlords) insert—

“A1Introduction

This Chapter provides for the registration of social landlords in Wales.”

(3)

In section 1—

(a)

for “The Relevant Authority” substitute “ The Welsh Ministers ”, and

(b)

omit subsections (1A) and (1B).

(4)

After section 1 insert—

“1AWelsh bodies

In this Chapter “Welsh body” means a body which is—

(a)

a registered charity whose address, for the purposes of registration by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, is in Wales,

(b)

an industrial and provident society whose registered office for the purposes of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 is in Wales, or

(c)

a company within the meaning of the Companies Act 2006 which has its registered office for the purposes of that Act in Wales.”

(5)

In section 2 (eligibility for registration)—

(a)

in subsection (1), for “A body” substitute “ A Welsh body ”,

(b)

in subsection (2) after “that the body is” insert “ principally concerned with Welsh housing, is ”,

(c)

after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A)

A body is principally concerned with Welsh housing if the Welsh Ministers think—

(a)

that it owns housing only or mainly in Wales, or

(b)

that its activities are principally undertaken in respect of Wales;

and once a body has been registered in reliance on paragraph (a) or (b) it does not cease to be eligible for registration by virtue only of ceasing to satisfy that paragraph.”,

(d)

in subsection (7) for “Secretary of State” (in each place) substitute “ Welsh Ministers ”, and

(e)

in subsection (8) for “either House of Parliament” substitute “ the National Assembly for Wales ”.

(6)

In section 3 (registration)—

(a)

in subsection (1) for “any body” substitute “ any Welsh body ”, and

(b)

in subsection (4) for “A body” substitute “ A Welsh body ”.

(7)

The table sets out substitutions which have effect throughout the Part (except section 51 and Schedule 2); and where necessary in consequence of those substitutions, for words in the singular substitute appropriate corresponding words in the plural.

Expression

Substitution

“the Relevant Authority”

“the Welsh Ministers”

“the Authority”

“the Welsh Ministers”

“the Relevant Authority's”

“the Welsh Ministers”

(8)

Omit section 56 (meaning of “the Relevant Authority”).

(9)

Sections 62 and 63 make other consequential amendments.