Allocation of Housing

8/10/2019 Allocation of Housing

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Homelessness Act 2002

Localism Act 2011

Key Subordinate Legislation

Allocation of Housing (England) Regulations 2002/3264

Allocation of Housing (Wales) Regulations 2003/239 (incorporating Allocation of Housing (Wales)(Amendment) Regulations 2006/2645

Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) Regulations 2006/1294

Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations2006/2527

Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006/2007

Allocation of Housing (England) (Amendment) (Family Intervention Tenancies) Regulations

2008/3015

Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Armed Forces) (England) Regulations 2012/1869

Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012/2588

Housing Act 1996 (Additional Preference for Armed Forces) (England) Regulations 2012/2989

Key Quasi-legislation

Allocation of accommodation:Guidance for local housing authorities in England 2012

Code of Guidance for Local Authorities Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness August2012, Welsh Government.

Key European Union Legislation

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None

Key Cases

R. v Newham LBC Ex p. Campbell [1994] 2 F.L.R. 403

R. v Newham LBC Ex p. Watkins (1994) 26 H.L.R. 434

R. v Islington LBC Ex p. Aldabbagh (1995) 27 H.L.R. 271

R. v Newham LBC Ex p. Miah (Deferring Accommodation: Rent Arrears) (1996) 28 H.L.R. 279

R. v Lambeth LBC Ex p. Ashley (1997) 29 H.L.R. 385

R. v Islington LBC Ex p. Reilly (1999) 31 H.L.R. 651

R. v Westminster City Council Ex p. Al-Khorsan (2001) 33 H.L.R. 6

R. (on the application of Kimvono) v Tower Hamlets LBC (2001) 33 H.L.R. 78

Sahardid v Camden LBC Unreported

R. (on the application of Bibi) v Camden LBC [2004] EWHC 2527 (Admin); [2005] 1 F.L.R. 413

R. (on the application of Yazar) v Southwark LBC [2008] EWHC 515 (Admin)

R. (on the application of Aweys) v Birmingham City Council [2009] UKHL 36; [2009] 1 W.L.R. 1506

Birmingham City Council v Qasim [2009] EWCA Civ 1080; [2010] P.T.S.R. 471

R. (on the application of Ariemuguvbe) v Islington LBC [2009] EWCA Civ 1308; [2010] H.L.R. 14

R. (on the application of Ahmad) v Newham LBC [2009] UKHL 14; [2009] 3 All E.R. 755

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amount of housing accommodation, is made available to a person or one of a number ofpersons nominated by the authority:HA 1996 s.159(4).

4.In England, an allocation of housing does not include an allocation by a local housingauthority to a person who is already a secure or introductory tenant, or an assured tenant of

housing accommodation held by a private registered provider of social housing or aregistered social landlord unless the allocation involves a transfer of housingaccommodation for that person, and the application for the transfer was made by thatperson and the authority is satisfied he should be given reasonable preference: HA 1996ss.159(4A) and (4B).

5.In Wales, an allocation of housing does not include an allocation to a person who is alreadya secure or introductory tenant unless the allocation involves a transfer of housingaccommodation for that person and is made on his application:HA 1996 s.159(5).

Cases where part 6 does not apply

1.The provisions relating to allocation of accommodation do not apply where there has beensuccession, devolution on death, assignment to a potential successor, assignment by wayof exchange, a grant of a new tenancy by way of exchange or the tenancy vests in anotherunder a number of family or domestic provisions:HA 1996 s.160(1)-(3).

2.The Secretary of State has power to make regulations under s.160 Housing Act 1996, toadd to those cases wherePt 6would not apply:HA 1996 s.160(4) and (5).

Eligibility for an Allocation of Housing - England

1.A local housing authority may allocate housing to any person who qualifies for an allocationprovided that he is not ineligible underHA 1996 s.160ZA.

2.An allocation may not be made to two or more persons jointly if one of them is ineligible: HA1996 s.160ZA(1)(b). This does not prevent allocation to an eligible person merely becausea member of his household is not eligible (R. (on the application of Kimvono) v TowerHamlets LBC (2001) 33 H.L.R. 78) but prevents allocation to the non-eligible person jointlywith the eligible person. An authority is, however, entitled to:

a.have regard to the fact that members of a person's household would not be eligible foraccommodation in their own right;

b.conclude that an ineligible person does not form part of the household; and

c.have regard to the fact that an ineligible person is not permitted to have recourse topublic funds: R. (on the application of Ariemuguvbe) v Islington LBC [2009] EWCA Civ1308; [2010] H.L.R. 14.

3.The discretion to decide who is or who is not to be a qualifying person is largely left toindividual authorities: HA 1996 s.160ZA(7). This will have to be set out clearly in anauthority's allocation scheme: HA 1996 s.166A(1). The Secretary of State may prescribeclasses of persons who are, or are not, to be treated as qualifying persons by local housingauthorities, and prescribe criteria that may not be used by local housing authorities in

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deciding what classes of persons are not qualifying persons:HA 1996 s.160ZA(8).

4.There are, however, certain classes of persons prescribed under the HA 1996 who areineligible for an allocation. Persons subject to immigration control under the Asylum andImmigration Act 1996 are ineligible unless of a class prescribed by regulations: HA 1996

s.160ZA(2). The Secretary of State may not regulate so as to include as eligible a personwho is excluded from entitlement to universal credit or housing benefit by s.115 of theImmigration and Asylum Act 1999: HA 1996 s.160ZA(3). The Secretary of State mayintroduce regulations that have the effect of other classes of persons from abroad beingdeemed ineligible:HA 1996 s.160ZA(4). (For further details see:Homelessness).

5.The provisions allowing the Secretary of State to introduce regulations, do not affect theeligibility of persons who are already secure, introductory or assured tenants of housingallocated to them:HA 1996 s.160ZA(5).

6.In Birmingham City Council v Qasim [2009] EWCA Civ 1080; [2010] P.T.S.R. 471 it washeld that the prohibitions regarding the allocation of accommodation do not prevent an

authority from granting a tenancy under Pt 2 Housing Act 1985 (as opposed to making anallocation) to an ineligible person.

7.Where an authority decide that a person is not a qualifying person, they must notify theapplicant of their decision and the grounds for it: HA 1996 s.160ZA(9). Notification must begiven in writing and, if not received by the applicant, shall be treated as having been given ifit is made available at the authority's office for collection for a reasonable period: HA 1996s.160ZA(10). An unsuccessful applicant has the right to request a review of decision that heis not a qualifying person:HA 1996 s.166A(9)(c).

8.A person can make a fresh application for accommodation after it has been decided that hedoes not qualify for accommodation:HA 1996 s.160ZA(11).

Eligibility for an Allocation of Housing - Wales

1.A local housing authority in Wales may allocate housing to any person, or two or morepersons jointly, who qualifies for an allocation provided that he is not, or one of them arenot, ineligible:HA 1996 s.160A(1)-(2). (For further details see: Eligibility for an allocation ofhousing (England)).

2.A person subject to immigration control under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 isineligible for an allocation of housing accommodation unless he is of a class prescribed by

regulations: HA 1996 s.160A(3). The Secretary of State may prescribe other classes ofpersons from abroad who are ineligible, either in relation to local housing authoritiesgenerally or any particular local housing authority:HA 1996 s.160A(5). Any such regulationscannot include a person who is excluded from entitlement to universal credit or housingbenefit bys.115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999:HA 1996 s.160A(4).

3.The provisions allowing the Secretary of State to introduce regulations, do not affect theeligibility of persons who are already secure, introductory or assured tenants of housingallocated to them:HA 1996 s.160A(6). (For further details see: Eligibility for an allocation ofhousing (England)).

4.A local housing authority in Wales may decide that a person is to be treated as ineligible foran allocation of housing accommodation by them if they are satisfied that he, or a memberof his household, has been guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to make him

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unsuitable to be a tenant of the authority; and, at the time his application, it is consideredthat he is unsuitable to be a tenant owing to that behaviour: HA 1996 s.160A(7).Unacceptable behaviour is that of a person, or a person residing in his property, whichwould entitle the authority to a possession order unders.84, Housing Act 1985on grounds1 to 7 of Sch.2:HA 1996 s.160A(8). (For further details seeSecure tenanciesand Housing:anti-social behaviour).

5.Where an authority decide that a person is not a qualifying person, they must notify theapplicant of their decision and the grounds for it: HA 1996 s.160A(9). Notification must begiven in writing and, if not received by the applicant, shall be treated as having been given ifit is made available at the authority's office for collection for a reasonable period: HA 1996s.160A(10). An unsuccessful applicant has the right to request a review of decision that heis not a qualifying person:HA 1996 s.167(4A)(d).

6.If a person believes he should no longer be treated as ineligible, he may make a freshapplication to the authority for an allocation of housing accommodation by them: HA 1996s.160A(11).

Allocation Schemes - England

1.Every local housing authority in England must have an allocation scheme for determiningpriorities between qualifying persons: HA 1996 s.166A(1). Subject to the provisions withins.166A, and any regulations made by the Secretary of State, an authority may decide onwhat principles the scheme is to be framed:HA 1996 s.166A(11).

2.In drafting an allocation scheme there are certain procedural requirements an authoritymust comply with. An authority must: have regard to their current homelessness strategy;have regard to their tenancy strategy; in London, have regard to the London Housing

Strategy; and consult with every private registered provider of social housing with whichthey have nomination agreements:HA 1996 ss.166A(12), (13).

3.Housing accommodation must be allocated in accordance with the scheme: HA 1996s.166A (14). If housing accommodation to those on the waiting list is not allocated inaccordance with the scheme, the allocation will be ultra vires and the decision may bequashed by the court (seeSarhadid v Camden LBC [2004] EWCA Civ 1485; [2005] H.L.R.11 and R. (on the application of Bibi) v Camden LBC [2004] EWHC 2527 (Admin)). Anon-compliant tenancy granted under the provisions of theHousing Act 1985(as opposedto a non-compliant allocation under these provisions), however, has been held to be valid (Birmingham CC v Qasim and others [2009] EWCA Civ 1080; [2010] H.L.R. 19). (See alsoEligibility for an allocation of housing (England)).

4.The allocation scheme must contain the procedure to be followed in allocating housingaccommodation, including all aspects of the process and the persons, or descriptions ofpersons, by whom decisions are taken:HA 1996 s.166A(1).

5.The scheme must also incorporate a statement of the authority's policy on offering personswho are to be allocated accommodation a choice of housing accommodation or theopportunity to express their preferences about the housing accommodation to be allocatedto them:HA 1996 s.166A(2).

6.Allocations schemes must provide for categories of reasonable preference. Reasonable

preference must be given to the following:

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c.Any local connection which exists between a person and the authority's area: HA 1996s.166A(5). Local connection has the same meaning as under the Pt 7, HA 1996. (Forfurther details see:Homelessness).

11. The scheme may also contain provision about the allocation of particular housingaccommodation to a person who makes a specific application for that accommodation or topersons of a particular description whether or not such persons fall within the categories towhich reasonable preference must be given:HA 1996 s.166A(6).

12.By regulations the Secretary of State may specify further descriptions of people to whompreference is to be given, amend or repeal any of the categories to which reasonablepreference must be given, specify factors which a local housing authority must not take intoaccount in allocating housing accommodation and provide for the procedure that must befollowed:HA 1996 ss.166A(7), (8) and (10). In respect of procedure, the scheme must beframed to reflect any regulations made:HA 1996 s.166A(10).

13.The scheme must be framed so as to secure that an person for an allocation of housingaccommodation has the right to request such information as will enable him to assess howhis application is likely to be treated under the scheme (including in particular whether he islikely to be regarded as a member of a group of people who are to be given preference byvirtue of the statutory provisions) and whether housing accommodation appropriate to hisneeds is likely to be made available to him. If accommodation is likely to be made available,he should be able to assess how long it is likely to be before such accommodation becomesavailable for allocation to him: HA 1996 s.166A(9). A person has the right to request theauthority to inform him of any decision about the facts of his case which is likely to be, orhas been, taken into account and the right to request a review of a decision. A person alsohas the right to be informed of the decision on the review and the grounds for it: HA 1996s.166A(9).

Allocation Schemes - Wales

1.Every local housing authority in Wales must have an allocation scheme for determiningpriorities between qualifying persons and must allocate accommodation in accordance withthat scheme: HA 1996 ss.167(1) and (8). (For further detail see: Allocation schemes(England)).

2.Subject to the provisions with s.167 and any regulations made under the powers of theSecretary of State, an authority may decide on what principles the scheme is to be framed:HA 1996 s.167(6).

3.Before adopting an allocation scheme or making an alteration to an existing scheme (whichreflects a major policy change) there are certain procedural requirements an authority mustcomply with. An authority must consult on the draft scheme, or proposed alteration, withevery private registered provider of social housing or registered social landlord with whichthey have nomination agreements:HA 1996 s.167(7).

4.The allocation scheme must contain the procedure to be followed in allocating housingaccommodation, including all aspects of the process and the persons, or descriptions ofpersons, by whom decisions are taken: HA 1996 s.167(1). The scheme must alsoincorporate a statement of the authority's policy on offering persons who are to be allocated

accommodation a choice of housing accommodation or the opportunity to express theirpreferences about the housing accommodation to be allocated to them:HA 1996 s.167(2).

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5.Reasonable preference within an authority's scheme must be given to the following:

a.Persons who are homeless. (For further details seeHomelessness).

b. Persons who are owed a duty by any local housing authority under HA 1996 ss.190(2),193(2) or 195(2) (or under the corresponding duties in the predecessor legislation (ss.65(2)or 68(2) Housing Act 1985) or who are occupying accommodation secured byany such authority underHA 1996 s.192(3). (For further details see:Homelessness).

c.Persons occupying insanitary or overcrowded housing or otherwise living inunsatisfactory housing conditions.

d.Persons who need to move on medical or welfare grounds.

e.Persons who need to move to a particular locality within the local authority's area and a

failure to meet that need would cause hardship to themselves or to others: HA 1996s.167(2).

6.A person is not entitled to be given reasonable preference under s.166A(3)if he only fallswithin the reasonable categories because of a restricted person in his household: HA 1996s.167(2ZA). (For further details see: Homelessness). The scheme may also be framed soas to give additional preference to particular descriptions of persons with urgent housingneeds:HA 1996 s.167(2).

7.The scheme may contain provision for determining priorities in allocating housing

accommodation to persons outlined in s.166A(3).The scheme may include the followingfactors to be taken into account.

a.The financial resources available to a person to meet his housing costs.

b.Any behaviour of a person, or of a member of his household, affecting his suitability tobe a tenant.

c.Any local connection which exists between a person and the authority's area: HA 1996s.167(2A). Local connection has the same meaning as under the Pt 7 HA 1996. (Forfurther details see:Homelessness).

8.Preference need not be given to a person the authority has decided is a person that hasbeen guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to make him unsuitable to be atenant of the authority and, at the time his application, the authority is satisfied he isunsuitable to be a tenant of the authority due to that behaviour. A person need not beafforded preference if a member of his household has been guilty of such behaviour and,again, at the time of the application, the authority deem the person as unsuitable to be atenant due to the behaviour of a member of his household: HA 1996 ss.167(2B) and (2C).Unacceptable behaviour is that of a person, or a person residing in his property, whichwould entitle the authority to a possession order unders.84 Housing Act 1985on grounds 1to 7 of Sch.2:HA 1996 ss.167(2D)and 160A(8). (For further details see: Secure tenanciesandHousing: anti-social behaviour).

9.The scheme may also contain provision about the allocation of particular housing

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accommodation to a person who makes a specific application for that accommodation or topersons of a particular description whether or not such persons fall within the categories towhich reasonable preference must be given:HA 1996 s.167(2E).

10.By regulations the Secretary of State may specify further descriptions of people to whom

preference is to be given, amend or repeal any of the categories to which reasonablepreference must be given, specify factors which a local housing authority must not take intoaccount in allocating housing accommodation and provide for the procedure that must befollowed: HA 1996 ss.167(3), (4) and (5). In respect of procedure, the scheme must beframed to reflect any regulations made:HA 1996 s.167(5).

11.The scheme must be framed so as to secure that an person for an allocation of housingaccommodation has the right to request such information as will enable him to assess howhis application is likely to be treated under the scheme (including in particular whether he islikely to be regarded as a member of a group of people who are to be given preference byvirtue of the statutory provisions) and whether housing accommodation appropriate to hisneeds is likely to be made available to him. If accommodation is likely to be made available,

he should be able to assess how long it is likely to be before such accommodation becomesavailable for allocation to him:HA 1996 s.166A(4A)(a).

12.A person has the right to request the authority to inform him of any decision about the factsof his case which is likely to be, or has been, taken into account and the right to request areview of a decision. A person also has the right to be informed of the decision on thereview and the grounds for it: HA 1996 s.167(4A)(b) and (c).

Allocation Schemes - Publication

1.A local housing authority must publish a summary of their scheme, and provide a copy of

the summary free of charge to any member of the public on request:HA 1996 s.168(1). Theentire scheme must be made available for inspection at an authority's principal office, and acopy provided to any member of the public who asks for one, on payment of a reasonablefee:HA 1996 s.168(2).

2.Should a local authority make any alteration to its scheme that reflects a major change ofpolicy, it must, within a reasonable period, take such steps as it consider reasonable tobring the effect of the alteration to the attention of those likely to be affected by it: HA 1996s.168(3).

Allocation Schemes - Co-Operation

1.Where a local housing authority ask a private registered provider of social housing or aregistered social landlord to offer accommodation to persons with priority under theauthority's scheme, such landlords must co-operate to such a degree as is reasonable inthe circumstances:HA 1996 s.170.

Code of Guidance

1.Under Pt 6 HA 1996, there is a power to enable the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministersto issue guidance to which local authorities must have regard: HA 1996 s.167. Following a

recent consultation in England, the main code is Allocation of accommodation: Guidance forlocal housing authorities in England 2012. For Wales see Code of Guidance for LocalAuthorities Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness August 2012, Welsh

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Dagenham LBC [2009] EWHC 2196 (Admin)).

3.InR. (on the application of Yazar) v Southwark LBC [2008] EWHC 515 (Admin), it was heldthat there was no justification to quash the entirety of the authority's scheme where theprocedure relating to social services referrals was "unclear to the point of obscurity": the

procedure was reduced to a short and comprehensible form that was readily available.

4.Where the allocation scheme names a particular officer who will take a decision, it isunlawful for the authority to allow a different officer or person to take the decision (R. (on theapplication of Adow) v Newham LBC [2010] EWHC 951 (Admin)).

5.It is not for a court to second guess the policy decisions of a local authority and the absenceof any residual discretion within a scheme does not render a scheme unlawful (R (Kabashi)v Redbridge LBC [2009] EWHC 2984 (Admin)).

6.Although local authorities have the scope to develop allocations schemes, to an extent, how

they wish, a scheme should not be so rigid as to fetter the consideration of the individualcircumstances (see, for example,R. v Newham LBC Ex p. Campbell [1994] 2 F.L.R. 40 3;R.v Newham LBC Ex p. Watkins (1994) 26 H.L.R. 4 34; R. v Islington LBC Ex p. Aldabbagh(1995) 27 H.L.R. 271; andR. v Lambeth LBC Ex p. Ashley (1997) 29 H.L.R. 385).

7.In the application of an allocation scheme, an authority must not have regard to irrelevantconsiderations (R. (on the application of Bauer-Czarnomski) v Ealing LBC [2010] EWHC130 (Admin)).

8.An allocation scheme which provided that if a qualifying person reached a certain level ofpoint he would be visited by a housing officer and advised that if he failed to bid for aproperty within two months an "auto-bid" would be made on his behalf was lawful (R. (on

the application of Tout a Tout) v Haringey LBC [2012] EWHC 873 (Admin)).

9.The requirement to give a reasonable preference is not a requirement to give a reasonablepreference at all times and in relation to all properties, but to give preference over areasonable period (Babakandi v Westminster City Council [2011] EWHC 1756 (Admin);[2011] A.C.D. 99). The reasonable preference requirement also does not prevent anauthority allocating a proportion of all housing vacancies to one particular group (R. vIslington LBC Ex p. Reilley and Mannix (1998) 31 H.L.R. 651, QBD;R. v Westminster CityCouncil Ex p. Al-Khorsan (2001) 33 H.L.R. 6).

10.Reasonable preference implies a power to choose between different persons on reasonable

grounds. It is not unreasonable to prefer good tenants to bad tenants (R. v Newham LBC Exp. Miah (Deferring Accommodation: Rent Arrears) (1996) 28 H.L.R. 279).

11.InR. (on the application of Ahmad) v Newham LBC [2009] UKHL 14; [2009] 3 All E.R. 755,the authority's scheme was challenged on two grounds. First, that the authority had failed todetermine priority between people in the reasonable preference groups in accordance withindividual needs (cumulative need). Secondly, that the policy of allocating up to 5 per centof properties advertised under the choice-based lettings scheme to existing tenants wishingto transfer but who did not have reasonable preference failed to give reasonable preferenceto those within the statutory regime.

12.The House of Lords held that a local authority may afford additional preference to those

within the priority groups who have an urgent need. The statutory regime provided that localauthorities may determine priorities between those within priority groups by reference to

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other considerations and, therefore, an authority could not be required to afford preferenceby reference to cumulative need. The local authority were entitled to allocate properties topeople who did not fall within a category of reasonable preference as such preference didnot require that relevant persons should be given absolute priority.

13.Although Ahmad removed the judicially created requirement of provision for cumulativeneed, of, arguably, further importance was the statement regarding judicial interventiongenerally when dealing with allocation schemes:

".. as a general proposition, it is undesirable for the courts to get involved in questions ofhow priorities are accorded in housing allocation policies. Of course, there will be caseswhere the court has a duty to interfere, for instance if a policy does not comply withstatutory requirements, or if it is plainly irrational. However, it seems unlikely that thelegislature can have intended that Judges should embark on the exercise of tellingauthorities how to decide on priorities as between applicants in need of rehousing, savein relatively rare and extreme circumstances. Housing allocation policy is a difficultexercise which requires not only social and political sensitivity and judgment, but alsolocal expertise and knowledge."

14.Conversely, inR. (on the application of Aweys) v Birmingham City Council [2009] UKHL 36 ;[2009] 1 W.L.R. 1506, the House of Lords held that the authority's allocations policy wasunlawful by reason of irrationality. Under the scheme, the authority would discharge its dutyunderPt 7 HA 1996by leaving a family in existing accommodation - found to be unsuitable -until suitable permanent accommodation could be found. A family in such a situation,therefore, would be awarded lower priority than a homeless family in temporaryaccommodation which had not been the subject of a finding that it was unsuitable. Theauthority - who professed that "those in greatest need are dealt with first" - had not justifiedthe difference in treatment given that arguably a family in unsuitable accommodation was ingreater need than a family housed in suitable accommodation albeit temporarily.

Analysis

KEY AREAS OF COMPLEXITY OR UNCERTAINTY

1.Under the proposed changes to the provision of legal aid, only a challenge to the policyitself on a judicial review will merit funding and any other challenge will be out of scope.

2.Due to local housing authorities in England being given broader scope to develop allocationschemes in a manner which is deemed appropriate to the specific authority's needs andpriorities, it remains to be seen how schemes will develop.

3.Further, the Government have decided to reform judicial review procedures which includethe proposal that where a claim is deemed, at permission stage, to be "totally without merit"on the papers, there will be no right for reconsideration at an oral renewal hearing. Giventhe broad discretion given to local authorities in relation to their allocation schemes, it alsoremains to be seen how many challenges will make it to a substantive hearing.

4.Any policy that excludes a certain class of people from allocations of social housing must berational and the decision must also have complied with s.149 Equality Act 2010.Specifically, an authority needs to have due regard to the need to promote equality of

opportunity between persons with protected characteristics and those who do not have aprotected characteristic and to eliminate discrimination.

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5.Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 defines protected characteristics as age, disability,gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race,religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Marriage and civil partnerships are notprotected characteristics which are subject to thes.149duty.

6. Following the decision ofR. (on the application of Ahmad) v Newham LBC [2009] UKHL 14;[2009] 3 All E.R. 755, challenges to the rationality of an authority's allocation scheme will beunlikely to succeed unless they can be shown to be truly unreasonable or arbitrary. Thebest chance, therefore, of challenging a scheme may lie in challenges brought on the basisthat there has been a failure to have had due regard to s.149 of the Equality Act 2010.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

None.

POSSIBLE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

1.The Government has recently exercised its extensive powers to make secondary legislationin relation to preference given to members of the armed forces. Plainly, therefore, thepowers provide a basis for future development and it remains to be seen whether or not theSecretary of State will introduce further regulations to bind local authorities with regard tothe content of allocation schemes.

2.The Government announced on 25 March 2013, its plans to introduce statutory allocationguidance in relation to foreign nationals. The proposal is to introduce a "residence test" on

the basis that local people receive priority in the social housing sector. It is proposed thatmigrants will have to have contributed in the United Kingdom before they would be entitledto qualify for an allocation of housing accommodation.

HUMAN RIGHTS

1.It is unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with the EuropeanConvention on Human Rights unless primary legislation (and legislative provisionsdeveloped under the powers of primary legislation) meant that an authority could not haveacted differently (or was acting so as to give effect to or enforce such provisions): HumanRights Act 1998 s.6.

2.Local authorities are public authorities and, therefore, must comply with the HRA 1998 inthe exercise of their functions which includes when acting as a local housing authority inallocating housing stock.

EUROPEAN UNION ASPECTS

1.The1996 Actgives effect to UK domestic policy and has no particular connection with anyspecific European Union legislation.

Further Reading

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Allocation of Housing

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