Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026

13 Exemption from referral to another local housing authority

(1) The 2014 Act is amended as follows.

(2) After section 81 (local connection) insert—

“81A Applicants who are exempt from referral under section 80

(1) A local housing authority may not refer a case to another local housing authority (whether in Wales or England) under section 80 if any of the circumstances described in subsection (2), (3) or (4) apply in relation to the applicant.

(2) The circumstances are that the applicant or any member of the applicant’s household—

(a) is at greater risk of suffering abuse in the area of the authority to which the referral would be made than in the area to which the application is made, or

(b) falls within a prescribed category of person.

(3) The circumstances are that the applicant is a prisoner who has been notified under section 63 that a duty is owed to the applicant under section 66 or 75 and a period of 2 weeks has ended, beginning with the day on which the notification was given.

(4) The circumstances are that a referral has previously been made under section 80 in relation to the same application.”

(3) In section 142(3)(b)(ii) (orders and regulations), after “81(4)” (inserted by section 12(3)) insert “, 81A(2)(b)”.