An overview of the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026, it's passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.
Contents
Overview
The Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 reforms existing homelessness and housing legislation to:
- enhance prevention focussed activity, expand access to homelessness services and provide additional support to those who need it most
- widen responsibility across the Welsh public service to identify individuals at risk of homelessness earlier and assist as part of a multi-agency response
- maximise use of social housing for those most in need
The 2026 Act therefore amends Part 2 (Homelessness) of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, Part 6 (Allocation of housing accommodation) of the Housing Act 1996 (on legislation.gov.uk), to a lesser extent, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
The Explanatory Notes to the 2026 Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.
- Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026: Explanatory Notes on legislation.gov.uk
Read the full Act:
Coming into force
Section 43 makes provision for the coming into force of the 2026 Act:
Part 3 of the 2026 Act comes into force the day after the Act receives royal assent. This means the provisions in part 3 came into force on 2 April 2026.
Subordinate legislation made under the Act
Any subordinate legislation made under the 2026 Act will be added when that subordinate legislation is made.
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd
The bill was introduced to the Senedd on 19 May 2025 by Jayne Bryant MS, (then) Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government. It was passed by the Senedd on 10 February 2026 and received royal assent on 1 April 2026.
More information about the 2026 Act and the bill's passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.
An explanatory memorandum was originally prepared for consideration by the Senedd alongside the bill. This has now been revised and updated to reflect the final form of the Act
Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026: explanatory memorandum