Treatment of Claimants Section 11 : Accommodation for asylum seekers: local connection
52.Subsection (1) amends section 199 of the Housing Act 1996, such that asylum seekers who are provided with accommodation under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 establish a local connection (for the purposes of Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) with the district of the local housing authority where the accommodation is provided. Where accommodation is provided in more than one district, a local connection is established only with the district where accommodation was most recently provided. However, this provision does not apply where accommodation is provided in an accommodation centre. The Housing Act 1996 extends only to England and Wales.
53.Subsection (2) provides that section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 does not apply in respect of homeless applicants who have formerly been provided with accommodation under section 95 of the 1999 Act in a place in Scotland, and who do not have a local connection with a district in England, Wales or Scotland.
54.Subsection (3) provides that, in cases where the section 193 duty does not apply, local housing authorities in England and Wales may secure that accommodation is available for occupation by the person for a period that will give him a reasonable opportunity of securing accommodation for himself, and may provide the person (or secure that he is provided with) advice and assistance in any attempts he may make to secure that accommodation becomes available for his occupation.