(1)Section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 (duty to persons with priority need who are not homeless intentionally) is amended as follows.
(2)Omit subsection (3A).
(3)For subsection (5) substitute—
“(5)The local housing authority shall cease to be subject to the duty under this section if—
(a)the applicant, having been informed by the authority of the possible consequence of refusal or acceptance and of the right to request a review of the suitability of the accommodation, refuses an offer of accommodation which the authority are satisfied is suitable for the applicant,
(b)that offer of accommodation is not an offer of accommodation under Part 6 or a private rented sector offer, and
(c)the authority notify the applicant that they regard themselves as ceasing to be subject to the duty under this section.”
(4)In subsection (7) after “refusal” insert “or acceptance”.
(5)In subsection (7AA)—
(a)omit “In a restricted case”,
(b)after “informed” insert “in writing”, and
(c)in paragraph (a) for “private accommodation offer” substitute “private rented sector offer”.
(6)In subsection (7AB)—
(a)in paragraph (a) after “refusal” insert “or acceptance”, and
(b)at the end of paragraph (b) insert “, and
(c)in a case which is not a restricted case, the effect under section 195A of a further application to a local housing authority within two years of acceptance of the offer.”
(7)In subsection (7AC) for “private accommodation offer” substitute “private rented sector offer”.
(8)Omit subsections (7B) to (7E).
(9)In subsection (7F)—
(a)at the end of paragraph (a) insert “or”,
(b)in paragraph (ab) for “private accommodation offer” substitute “private rented sector offer”,
(c)omit paragraph (b), and
(d)in the words following that paragraph for “it is reasonable for him to accept the offer” substitute “subsection (8) does not apply to the applicant.”
(10)For subsection (8) substitute—
“(8)This subsection applies to an applicant if—
(a)the applicant is under contractual or other obligations in respect of the applicant’s existing accommodation, and
(b)the applicant is not able to bring those obligations to an end before being required to take up the offer.”
(11)After subsection (9) insert—
“(10)The appropriate authority may provide by regulations that subsection (7AC)(c) is to have effect as if it referred to a period of the length specified in the regulations.
(11)Regulations under subsection (10)—
(a)may not specify a period of less than 12 months, and
(b)may not apply to restricted cases.
(12)In subsection (10) “the appropriate authority”—
(a)in relation to local housing authorities in England, means the Secretary of State;
(b)in relation to local housing authorities in Wales, means the Welsh Ministers.”