How is Welsh Government ensuring homeless British citizens are prioritised for social housing?
The Welsh Government does not collect or verify data on the nationality of people either in social housing or waiting for social housing in Wales. Housing registers and the allocation of social housing are managed by local authorities.
When allocating accommodation, local authorities must have regard to the Welsh Government’s Code of Guidance for Local Authorities: Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness along with their statutory obligations. Under Section 160A of the Housing Act 1996 (‘the 1996 Act’) anyone in Wales can qualify for an allocation of social housing, in any local authority to which they apply, provided they are not disqualified or ineligible, on the grounds of serious behaviour or immigration status.
Local authorities are required by Section 167 of the 1996 Act to have an allocation scheme that determines the authority’s priorities and procedures to be followed in allocating social housing. Due to the differing nature of allocation schemes across Wales, how long someone may wait for an allocation of social housing will vary across authorities.
Housing registers or waiting lists are a measure of who would like to and who have applied to live in social housing and not a measure of need. The list may include people who already live in secure housing (including secure social housing) but wish to move to other social housing.