The Homelessness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Homelessness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 and shall come into operation on 1st May 2004.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations “the Order” means the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

Descriptions of persons who are to be treated as persons from abroad ineligible for housing assistance

3.—(1) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) of Article 7A of the Order, the following are descriptions of persons, other than persons who are subject to immigration control, who are to be treated as persons from abroad who are ineligible for assistance under Part II (housing the homeless) of the Order –

(a) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person who is not habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland;

(b) a person whose right to reside in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland is derived solely from Council Directive No. 90/364/EEC(1) or Council Directive No. 90/365/EEC(2).

(2) The following persons shall not, however, be treated as persons from abroad who are ineligible pursuant to paragraph 1(a) –

(a) a person who is a worker for the purposes of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1612/68(3) or (EEC) No. 1251/70(4);

(b) a person who is an accession state worker requiring registration who is treated as a worker for the purpose of the definition of “qualified person” in regulation 5(1) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2000(5) pursuant to regulation 5 of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004(6);

(c) a person with a right to reside pursuant to the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2000, which is derived from Council Directive No. 68/360/EEC(7), No. 73/148/EEC(8) or 75/34/EEC(9);

(d) a person who left the territory of Montserrat after 1st November 1995 because of the effect on that territory of a volcanic eruption.

(3) A person shall not be treated as habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) if he does not have a right to reside in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.

Transitional

4.  These Regulations shall not have effect in relation to an applicant whose application for assistance under Part II of the Order was made before 1st May 2004.

Revocation and saving

5.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Homelessness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(10) are hereby revoked.

(2) The Homelessness Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 shall continue to have effect in relation to an applicant whose application for assistance under Part II of the Order was made before 1st May 2004.

Paul Murphy

One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Northern Ireland Office

29th April 2004