What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that Rent Smart Wales and local authorities apply consistent and transparent criteria in housing allocations?
Rent Smart Wales is not responsible for the allocation of housing.
Local authorities are required by Section 167 of the Housing Act 1996 to have an allocation scheme that determines the authority’s priorities and procedures to be followed in allocating housing. The allocation scheme should specify eligibility criteria, alongside preference categories that must be awarded to applicants by local authorities. Each local authority should have its own published allocations policy available for the public to access.
It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to determine how best to discharge their functions in respect of developing allocation schemes, taking into account their specific local housing demand and paying due regard to the Welsh Government’s Code of Guidance.