The Homelessness (Asylum-Seekers) (Interim Period) (England) Order 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes modifications to Part VII (homelessness) of the Housing Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act”) which apply only in relation to asylum-seekers who are eligible for housing assistance under that Part as a result of regulations made under section 185(2) of that Act and who are not made ineligible by section 186 (or any other provision) of that Act (article 2).

Article 3 modifies section 198 of the 1996 Act to enable a local housing authority to refer a case to another authority where they have agreed that the case should be referred and there is no risk of domestic violence in the other authority’s district to the asylum-seeker or any person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him. The authorities need not take into account any preference as to the location of accommodation, or any local connection, of the asylum-seeker or any person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him.

Article 4 modifies section 206 of the 1996 Act to require a local housing authority, when discharging their housing functions, to have regard to the desirability, in general, of securing accommodation in areas in which there is a ready supply of accommodation.

Article 5 modifies section 208 of the 1996 Act so that a local housing authority need not secure that accommodation is available for the occupation of an asylum-seeker in their own district where another housing authority has agreed that the local housing authority can secure that accommodation is available in the other authority’s district.

Article 6 modifies section 210 of the 1996 Act so that the local housing authority, in determining whether accommodation is suitable for an asylum-seeker, must have regard to the fact that the accommodation is to be temporary pending determination of the asylum-seeker’s claim for asylum. The authority must not have regard to any preference of the asylum-seeker or any person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him as to the location of the accommodation.

This Order will cease to have effect at the end of the interim period, that is on the date on which the repeal of section 186 of the 1996 Act by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 comes into force (article 7).

This Order extends to England only.