Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill

Purpose of the consultation

The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill (“the Bill”) has been referred to the Local Government and Housing Committee (“the Committee”) for Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the bill.

 

About the Bill:

If passed, the Bill will:

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>>>Expand access to homelessness services and provide additional support to those who need it most.

>>>Widen responsibility to certain specified public authorities to identify individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and respond effectively.

>>>Prioritise allocation of social housing to those most in need.

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Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

To help inform its scrutiny, the Committee is seeking views on:

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>>>The general principles of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill and whether there is a need for legislation to deliver the Bill’s stated policy objectives, which are to:

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***Expand access to homelessness services and provide additional support to those who need it most.

***Widen responsibility to certain specified public authorities to identify individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and respond effectively.

***Prioritise allocation of social housing to those most in need.

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>>>Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.

>>>Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.

>>>The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

>>>The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum).

>>>Matters relating to the competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.

>>>The balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation.

>>>Any matter related to the quality of the legislation.

>>>Any other matter related to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill.

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Submitting your views

The Committee would like to invite you to submit written evidence to assist in its consideration of the Bill.

 

We would like you to submit your views by completing this online form.

 

A downloadable template is available for you to draft your response before submitting it, if you wish. However, please do not submit your response on that template via email. Responses should be submitted via the online form.

 

We are keen to hear from as many people and organisations as possible. If you would like to submit your views but do not want/are not able to complete the online form, please write to the Committee (SeneddHousing@senedd.wales) and the Committee’s clerks can arrange with you a different way for your voice to be heard.

 

The closing date for submission to this consultation is 20 June 2025.

 

Please refer to the Bill page for further details and up-to-date information on the Bill.

 

Providing Written Evidence

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

 

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme, the Committee welcomes contributions in both or either of our official languages, and we ask organisations that are subject to Welsh Language standards or schemes to respond in line with their own obligations. Please inform the Committee when submitting responses if you intend to provide a translation at a later date.

 

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

 

Disclosure of information

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee.