Explanatory note

This Order amends the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1984) and the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1995).

In each case paragraph 2 of Schedule 3B sets out how a rent officer should determine a local housing allowance for each category of dwelling identified in paragraph 1. This process involves drawing up a list of rents, payable at the date of the determination, for dwellings within a broad rental market area. This Order inserts a new sub-paragraph (5A). This will allow the rent officer, if not satisfied that the list of rents for a particular category would contain sufficient rents to enable a representative local housing allowance to be determined, to add to the list rents for dwellings in the same category located in other areas in which a comparable market exists.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors.