The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under section 160A(3) of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) (“the 1996 Act”), a person who is subject to immigration control is ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation by a local authority unless they come within a class of persons prescribed in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers. Under section 160A(5) the Welsh Ministers can prescribe classes of persons who, whilst not subject to immigration control, are ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation.

Under paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 2 to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 7) (“the 2014 Act”), a person who is subject to immigration control is ineligible for housing assistance under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of that Act unless they come within a class of persons prescribed in regulations by the Welsh Ministers (or the Secretary of State). Under paragraph 1(4) the Welsh Ministers (or the Secretary of State) can prescribe classes of persons who, whilst not subject to immigration control, are ineligible for housing assistance.

These Regulations amend the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2603 (W. 257)) (“the 2014 Regulations”) which make provision for which persons, subject to immigration control, are eligible for an allocation of housing accommodation and for housing assistance. The 2014 Regulations also make provision in regard to persons who are not subject to immigration control but are ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation and housing assistance.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 3 of the 2014 Regulations which relates to the eligibility of persons subject to immigration control for an allocation of housing accommodation under the 1996 Act. It prescribes an additional class of persons (“Class O”) subject to immigration control who are eligible for an allocation of housing accommodation under the 1996 Act.

Class O applies to certain persons who were residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7 October 2023, and who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack. Such persons will be eligible if they have been given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom granted in accordance with the Immigration Rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77), provided that their leave is not subject to the condition that there must be ‘no recourse to public funds’ and that their leave was not granted because of a maintenance undertaking which is still applicable.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 4(2) of the 2014 Regulations to provide that certain persons who are not subject to immigration control but would be ineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation due to not being habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland are eligible for an allocation of housing accommodation. The persons to whom this amendment applies are those who were residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7 October 2023 and who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack.

Regulation 5 amends regulation 5(1) of the 2014 Regulations which relates to the eligibility of persons subject to immigration control for housing assistance under the 2014 Act. It prescribes an additional class of persons (“Class P”) who are eligible for such assistance. This class is equivalent to Class O inserted by regulation 3.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 6(2) of the 2014 Regulations so that certain persons who are not subject to immigration control, but would be ineligible for housing assistance due to not being habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, are eligible. The persons to whom this amendment applies are the same as those inserted by regulation 4.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ and on the Welsh Government’s website at www.gov.wales.