130.This section amends section 213B of the 1996 Act which imposes a duty on certain public authorities in England to refer a person who is, or may be, homeless or threatened with homelessness to a local housing authority in England identified by that person (with the person’s consent). As amended by section 21 of the Act, the duty in section 213B of the 1996 Act requires the public authorities subject to that duty in England to refer a person to a local housing authority in Wales where the person specifies an authority in Wales and consents to being referred.
131.This section also inserts subsection (3A) into section 213B of the 1996 Act. Inserted subsection (3A) provides that, where a referral is made to a local housing authority in Wales under section 213B of the 1996 Act, the referral is to be treated as if it were an application by the person to that local housing authority under section 62(1)(a) of the 2014 Act. This means a notification under section 213B of the 1996 Act will trigger the local housing authority’s duty to assess a person's case under section 62 of the 2014 Act as if the person had applied to the local housing authority in Wales for accommodation or help in retaining or obtaining accommodation.
Commentary on Sections Part 1 - Homelessness Section 21: Duty to refer persons in England to a local housing authority in Wales