http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asc/2026/3/contentsHomelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026enStatute Law Database2026-05-01Expert Participation2026-04-02Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026PART 1HOMELESSNESSHelp to prevent homelessness1Meaning of “threatened with homelessness”2Help to prevent an applicant from becoming homelessAssessment of needs and plans for securing accommodation and support3Duty to assess and notice of outcome of assessment4Prevention, support and accommodation plansReviews5Right to request a reviewReform of duties to secure accommodation6Duty to secure accommodation for eligible homeless persons with a local connection to Wales7Circumstances in which the duty to secure accommodation for applicants comes to an end8Interim duty to secure accommodation for homeless applicantsAbolishing entitlement by reference to priority needs and intentional homelessness9Abolition of differences in entitlement related to priority need10Abolition of differences in entitlement related to intentional homelessnessLocal connection referrals11Referral of cases to another local housing authority12Meaning of local connection13Exemption from referral to another local housing authority14Duties to applicants in referral cases15Cases referred from a local housing authority in England16Notice to applicants in referral casesFurther homelessness prevention duties17Help to retain suitable accommodation secured in exercise of homelessness functions18Duty to contact certain applicants after duty in section 75 comes to an endUnacceptable behaviour that brings duties to an end19Further circumstances in which the duties to help applicants endDuty to ask and act20Duty of a specified person to ask and act21Duty to refer persons in England to a local housing authority in WalesProvision for vulnerable people22Duty to ensure young people leaving care have suitable accommodation23Protocol for handling cases involving care leavers etc.24Protocol for handling cases involving persons in particular need of support25Protection of property: prisoners26Duty to provide information, advice and assistance: detained persons27Definition of “abuse”Seeking the views of homeless persons28Duty to seek the views of homeless persons in exercise of homelessness functionsCondition of accommodation29Suitability of accommodation30Reports on use and condition of interim accommodationCo-operation31Co-operation32Co-operation between social landlords and local housing authoritiesViewing accommodation33Viewing accommodationPART 2SOCIAL HOUSING ALLOCATIONIneligibility for allocation of social housing34Ineligibility for allocation of housing as a result of unacceptable behaviourPreference for persons in allocation schemes35No preference for persons who try to manipulate the housing system36Preference for young people leaving careRegisters37Housing registersPART 3MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERALMiscellaneous38Guidance to local housing authorities on rent guarantees39Review of the operation and effect of changes made by this ActGeneral40Interpretation41Minor and consequential provision42Power to make consequential and transitional provision etc.43Coming into force44Progress reports on bringing the Act into force45Short titleSCHEDULEMINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISION1Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)2Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 4)3Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 7)4Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1)Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 20262026 asc 3An Act of Senedd Cymru to reform the law on support to prevent and end homelessness and to reform the law about the allocation of social housing.[1 April 2026]
Having been passed by Senedd Cymru and having received the assent of His Majesty, it is enacted as follows: