Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

9 Care leavers not to be regarded as becoming homeless intentionally

(1) In section 191 of the Housing Act 1996 (becoming homeless intentionally)—

(a) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1ZA) But a person does not become homeless intentionally in a case described in any of subsections (1A) to (1C).”;

(b) in subsection (1A), for the words before paragraph (a) substitute “The first case is where—”;

(c) after subsection (1A) insert—

“(1B) The second case is where the person is a relevant child within the meaning given by section 23A(2) of the Children Act 1989.

(1C) The third case is where the person is a former relevant child within the meaning given by section 23C(1) of that Act and aged under 25.”;

(d) in subsection (3), in the words before paragraph (a), after “person” insert “, other than a person described in subsection (1B) or (1C),”.

(2) The amendments made by this section do not apply in relation to an application of a kind mentioned in section 183(1) of the Housing Act 1996 made before the date on which this section comes into force, except where the local housing authority deciding the application has not yet decided the matters set out in section 184(1)(a) and (b) of that Act.