s 159 Allocation of housing accommodation.
(1) A local housing authority shall comply with the provisions of this Part in allocating housing accommodation. (2) For the purposes of this Part a local housing authority allocate housing accommodation when they— (a) select a person to be a secure or introductory tenant of housing accommodation held by them, (b) nominate a person to be a secure or introductory tenant of housing accommodation held by another person, ... (c) nominate a person to be an assured tenant of housing accommodation held by a private registered provider of social housing or a registered social landlord. (d) select a person to be a tenant under a secure contract or an introductory standard contract of housing accommodation held by them, or (e) nominate a person to be a tenant under a secure contract or an introductory standard contract of housing accommodation held by another person. (3) The reference in subsection (2)(a) to selecting a person to be a secure tenant , and the reference in subsection (2)(d) to selecting a person to be a tenant under a secure contract or an introductory standard contract, includes deciding to exercise any power to notify an existing tenant or licensee that his tenancy or licence is to be a secure tenancy , a secure contract or an introductory standard contract . (4) The references in subsection (2)(b) , (c) and (e) to nominating a person include nominating a person in pursuance of any arrangements (whether legally enforceable or not) to require that housing accommodation, or a specified amount of housing accommodation, is made available to a person or one of a number of persons nominated by the authority. (4A) Subject to subsection (4B), the provisions of this Part do not apply to an allocation of housing accommodation by a local housing authority in England to a person who is already— (a) a secure or introductory tenant, or (b) an assured tenant of housing accommodation held by a private registered provider of social housing or a registered social landlord. (4B) The provisions of this Part apply to an allocation of housing accommodation by a local housing authority in England to a person who falls within subsection (4A)(a) or (b) if— (a) the allocation involves a transfer of housing accommodation for that person, (b) the application for the transfer is made by that person, and (c) the authority is satisfied that the person is to be given reasonable preference under section 166A(3). (5) The provisions of this Part do not apply to an allocation of housing accommodation by a local housing authority in Wales to a person who is already a tenant under a secure contract or an introductory standard contract unless the allocation involves a transfer of housing accommodation for that person and is made on his application. (7) Subject to the provisions of this Part, a local housing authority may allocate housing accommodation in such manner as they consider appropriate.