3. In section 198 (referral of case to another local housing authority)—
(a)in subsection (3), after “this purpose”, there shall be inserted “, and for the purpose of subsection (4A)(c),”; and
(b)after subsection (4), there shall be inserted—
“(4A) The conditions for referral of the case to another authority are also met if—
(a)the local housing authority to whom the application has been made and another housing authority have agreed that the case should be referred to that other authority;
(b)that other authority has provided written confirmation of the agreement to the local housing authority; and
(c)neither the applicant nor any person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him will run the risk of domestic violence in the district of that other authority.
(4B) When reaching the agreement referred to in subsection (4A)(a), the local housing authority to whom the application was made and the other authority need not have regard to—
(a)any preference that the applicant, or any person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, may have as to the locality in which the accommodation is to be secured; or
(b)whether the applicant, or any person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, has a local connection with the district of any local housing authority.”.