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  1. 1. Housing assistance and public funds
  2. 2. Eligibility for homelessness assistance
  3. 3. Key housing duties
  4. 4. Ineligible persons
  5. 5. Local Connection
  6. 6. Mixed households in homelessness applications
  7. 7. Social housing allocation
  8. 8. Housing association tenancies
  9. 9. Duty to refer
  10. 10. Right to rent checks
  11. 11. Council tax
  12. 12. Disabled Facilities Grant

Housing assistance and public funds

A person’s immigration status affects whether they can access local authority housing or homelessness assistance.

The Home Office sets which types of housing assistance are classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Homelessness assistance and local authority allocations of social housing are classed as public funds.

As housing is devolved, different legislation applies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Housing assistance classed as public funds

The following types of housing assistance provided by a local authority (or the Housing Executive in Northern Ireland) are classed as public funds.

England

  • homelessness assistance under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 
  • a local authority allocation of social housing (for example, a council or housing association tenancy) under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 

Scotland

Wales 

Homelessness assistance under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 is not listed as a ‘public fund’ in the Immigration Rules. However, people who are subject to an NRPF condition are not eligible under Welsh housing law. For more information, see Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness: Guidance for Local Authorities (Welsh Government, November 2023).

Northern Ireland

  • housing and homelessness provision under Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Who cannot access housing assistance

People who have a 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF) condition, or who do not have valid immigration permission, are not eligible for homelessness assistance or a local authority housing allocation. 

Accommodation provided under social care legislation or other statutory powers is not a public fund. This support can be accessed by people who have no recourse to public funds. See our information about social care support for adults with NRPF and social care support for families with NRPF.

The remaining webpages in this section apply housing law and policy in England. For more information on devolved housing systems, see the government guidance in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Page updated: 23 April 2026

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