Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1971). Regulation 2 makes provision to prevent any double deduction of ineligible charges, and to ensure that they are in fact deducted. Regulation 3 provides for the consequences of a case where the rent sought is reduced following a pre-tenancy determination by the rent officer and for the treatment of deductions for fuel, for meals and water charges, when there is a rent officer’s determination, and regulation 4 requires local authorities to provide certain information when making references to the rent officer.

Regulation 5 corrects a cross reference in an addition made to those Regulations by the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1644). Regulation 6 permits local authorities to have regard to rent officers' determinations when determining any payment on account of rent allowances. Regulation 7 substitutes a new provision specifying when a local authority shall or shall not make a reference to a rent officer when the landlord is a registered housing association.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.