Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008 No. 100) (“the Executive Determinations Regulations”) and the Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 222) to make changes to the manner in which the local housing allowance is determined.

The Regulations also provide revised amounts for the maximum local housing allowance for specified categories of dwelling.

Regulation 2 amends the Executive Determinations Regulations by substituting tables that provide that, for dwellings in specified categories in specified broad rental market areas, the local housing allowance is the lower of (a) the rent as last determined plus 3%, (b) the maximum allowance applicable to the dwelling and (c) the rent at the 30th percentile, determined in accordance with the Executive Determinations Regulations.

For other dwellings, the local housing allowance is the lower of the rent as last determined and the rent at the 30th percentile, determined in accordance with the Executive Determinations Regulations.

Regulation 3 makes the equivalent amendments to the Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on business or civil society organisations.