# The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2026

S.I. 2026/5 · made 6 January 2026

This Order modifies 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) to make provision for the determination of local housing allowances in 2026.

Made under: Housing Act 1996 (Section 122)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/rent-officers-housing-benefit-and-universal-credit-functions-modification-order-2026/pdf/uksi_20260005_en.pdf; UK Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/rent-officers-housing-benefit-and-universal-credit-functions-modification-order-2026/pdf/uksiem_20260005_en_001.pdf

## Introductory text

HOUSING
Made 6th January 2026
Laid before Parliament 8th January 2026
Coming into force 30th January 2026
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 122(1) and (6)(b) of the Housing Act 1996.

## 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2026 and comes into force on 30th January 2026.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland.

## 2 Modification to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997

For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2026, Schedule 3B to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—
“(2) For all broad rental market areas the local housing allowance for any category of dwelling is the allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st January 2024.”.

## 3 Modification to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997

For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2026, Schedule 3B to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—
“(2) For all broad rental market areas the local housing allowance for any category of dwelling is the allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st January 2024.”.

## 4 Modification to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013

For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2026, Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 (local housing allowance determinations) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—
“(2) For all broad rental market areas the local housing allowance for any category of accommodation is the allowance determined for that category of accommodation on 31st January 2024.”.

## Signature

Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Stephen Timms
Minister of State
Department for Work and Pensions
6th January 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order modifies 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) to make provision for the determination of local housing allowances in 2026.
Articles 2 and 3 provide that, for all broad rental market areas, the local housing allowance for any category of dwelling is the allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st January 2024.
Article 4 provides that, for all broad rental market areas, the local housing allowance for any category of accommodation is the allowance determined for that category of accommodation on 31st January 2024.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/5 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/rent-officers-housing-benefit-and-universal-credit-functions-modification-order-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.