Addendum: people who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem in connection with the conflict and its escalation between Israel and Iran during June 2025

The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 [“the amending Regulations”] amend the eligibility criteria for an allocation of housing and for housing assistance provided by local authorities in Wales. These changes apply to people who have travelled to the UK from Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem in connection with the conflict and its escalation between Israel and Iran during June 2025, including any associated violence or instability in the region.

The amending Regulations ensure that the habitual residence test is disapplied for the following group:

• Persons who were residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem before 23 June 2025;
• Who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem in connection with the conflict and its escalation between Israel and Iran during June 2025, including any associated violence or instability in the region, including under UK Government evacuation arrangements or by other means;
• Who are either:
  • British or Irish nationals; or
  • Persons with valid immigration status and recourse to public funds, and who are not subject to sponsorship undertakings;
• And who apply for housing or housing assistance within six months of the later of:
  • the date evacuation began (23 June 2025), or
  • the date the UK Government issued formal advice to leave (if applicable).

People not subject to immigration control:

A person who is a:

• British national, an individual not subject to immigration control (or treated as such), and those subject to immigration control who have leave to remain in the UK with recourse to public funds and are not sponsored under an undertaking;
• was residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem before 23 June 2025; and
• left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or East Jerusalem in connection with the conflict and its escalation between Israel and Iran during June 2025, including any associated violence or instability in the region, including under UK Government evacuation arrangements or by other means.

These individuals are eligible to apply for social housing or housing assistance in Wales without needing to satisfy the habitual residence test, provided they apply within six months of the later of:

• the date evacuation began (23 June 2025), or
  • the date the UK Government issued formal advice to leave.

The amending Regulations came into force on 18 July 2025.