Test of Intentionality

This Notice is to advise you that with effect from Monday 18th December 2023, Carmarthenshire County Council will be applying the "Test of Intentionality".

Notice to persons approaching the council for assistance when homeless or threatened homelessness.
New Housing legislation, Housing (Wales) Act 2014 came into force in Wales with effect from 27th April 2015. This significantly changes the law around how Local Housing Authorities deal with applications from persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In October 2022 the Homelessness (Priority Need and Intentionality) (Wales) Regulation 2022 came into force which added a new category of Priority Need known as Street Homelessness.

Carmarthenshire County Council currently assess intentionality and will continue to do so for all client groups identified below:

• A pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person with whom a dependent child resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who is vulnerable as a result of some special reason (for example: old age, physical or mental illness or physical or mental disability), or with whom a person who falls within sub-paragraph (i) resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who is homeless or threatened with homelessness as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster, or with whom a person who falls within sub-paragraph (i) resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who is aged 16 or 17 years
• A person who is homeless as a result of being subject to domestic abuse or with whom a person who falls within sub-paragraph (i) resides (other than the abuser) or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who has attained the age of 18, when the person applies to a local housing authority for accommodation or help in obtaining or retaining accommodation. But not the age of 21, who is at particular risk of sexual or financial exploitation, or with whom a person who falls within sub-paragraph (i) resides (other than an exploiter or potential exploiter) or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who has attained the age of 18, when the person applies to a local housing authority for accommodation or help in obtaining or retaining accommodation, but not the age of 21, who was looked after, accommodated or fostered at any time while under the age of 18
• A person who has served in the regular armed forces of the Crown who has been homeless since leaving, or with whom a person who falls within sub-paragraph (i) resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who has a local connection with the area of the local authority and who is vulnerable as a result of one of the following reasons –
  • Having served a custodial sentence within the meaning of Section 76 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
  • Having been remanded in or committed to custody by an order of a court
  • Having been remanded to youth detention accommodation under Section 91(4) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012,or a person with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
• A person who is street homeless (within the meaning of section 71(2)), or with whom a person might reasonably be expected to reside

For further information regarding this notice, please contact the Housing Hwb.
Contact tel. 01554 899389 or e-mail schoptions@carmarthenshire.gov.uk