The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This order brings into force on 25 February 2015 Part 3 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (“the Act”), except sections 103 and 104 and brings section 106 into force for remaining purposes. The order also commences consequential amendments in Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the Act (relating to Gypsies and Travellers).

This is the second commencement order made by the Welsh Ministers under the Act.

Article 2 commences, for all purposes, sections 101, 102, 105, 107 to110 and Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the Act. Article 2(d) brings section 106 into force for remaining purposes.

Section 101 requires local housing authorities to carry out assessments of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers living in, or from time to time visiting, their area.

Section 102 provides that local housing authorities must submit a report to the Welsh Ministers for approval of the authority’s assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to its area.

Section 105 requires local housing authorities upon request to provide the Welsh Ministers with such information to enable them to exercise their functions under Part 3 of the Act.

Section 106 requires local housing authorities, in the exercise of their functions under Part 3 of the Act, to have regard to any guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers under this section.

Section 107 sets out the duties placed on local housing authorities in respect of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers where a local housing authority prepares a housing strategy under section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Section 108 defines key expressions used in Part 3 of the Act.

Section 109 provides a power for the Welsh Ministers to amend the definition of Gypsies and Travellers under section 108 and to make consequential amendments to the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 to reflect further changes to the definition.

Section 110 introduces Part 2 of Schedule 3 which makes consequential amendments relating to Part 3 of the Act.