The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2016

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This is the sixth commencement order made by the Welsh Ministers under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (“the Act”).

This Order brings into force on 16 March 2016 Part 3 of the Act insofar as it is not already in force, namely sections 103 and 104 of the Act.

Section 101 of the Act requires a local housing authority to carry out assessments of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to its area. This Order brings into force section 103, which requires a local housing authority in Wales to exercise its power under section 56 of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 (power of authorities to provide sites for mobile homes) so far as necessary to meet the needs identified in the local housing authority’s approved assessment of accommodation needs carried out under section 101.

Section 104 gives the Welsh Ministers power to direct a local housing authority to exercise its powers under section 56 of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 so far as necessary to meet the needs identified in the local housing authority’s approved assessment, where the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that a local housing authority has failed to comply with its duty under section 103 of the Act. A local housing authority must comply with such a direction given to it.