{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/homelessness-act-2002/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/homelessness-act-2002/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/7",
  "legislation_title": "Homelessness Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/homelessness-act-2002",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Sections 1 to 3: interpretation",
  "text": "In sections 1 to 3—\n“homeless” and “homelessness” have the same meaning as in Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) (in this Act referred to as “the 1996 Act”);\n“local housing authority” and “district” have the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68);\n“social services authority” means a local authority for the purposes of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42) or Part 8 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014;\n“support” means advice, information or assistance; and\n“voluntary organisation” has the same meaning as in section 180(3) of the 1996 Act.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4 inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (No. 413), regs. 2(1), 187"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 2-4 modified (28.11.2008) by Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), regs. 1(1), 12(4)(b) (with reg. 1(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 4 wholly in force at 30.9.2002; s. 4 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 20(1); s. 4 in force for E. at 31.7.2002 by S.I. 2002/1799, art. 2; s. 4 in force for W. at 30.9.2002 by S.I. 2002/1736, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/7/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:19:43.015618+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}