Explanatory note

This Order amends the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1984), the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1995) and the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/382) (“the Orders”) to make changes to the manner in which a local housing allowance is determined.

Articles 2, 3 and 4 amend the Orders to provide that, for dwellings (or accommodation, in relation to Universal Credit) in specified categories in specified broad rental market areas, the local housing allowance is the lowest 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 Orders.

These Articles also provide revised amounts of the maximum housing allowance for specified categories of dwellings (or accommodation, in relation to Universal Credit).

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 Orders.

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