Savings10

1

In regulation 12(1) of the principal Regulations16 (restrictions on rent increases) as saved by regulation 5(3) of the Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 199717 (“the 1997 Regulations”) for “may” there shall be substituted “shall”.

2

In a case where the claimant is a person who meets the conditions specified in paragraph (3) the appropriate authority shall, when calculating 50 per cent. of the amount by which the relevant rent exceeds the local reference rent, deduct from the relevant rent the following charges determined by the appropriate authority as eligible to be met by housing benefit—

a

charges in respect of the cleaning of rooms and windows other than those eligible by virtue of paragraph 1(a)(iv)(aa) or (bb) of Schedule 1;

b

charges in respect of the provision of an emergency alarm system, or

c

charges in respect of general counselling or any other support.

3

The conditions of this paragraph are that the claimant is a person—

a

in respect of whom regulation 2(c)18 of the 1997 Regulations does not have effect, by virtue of regulation 5(1) (savings) of those Regulations, and

b

whose maximum rent falls to be adjusted in accordance with regulation 11(5A) of the principal Regulations.

4

In a case where the claimant is a person to whom regulation 5(3) of the 1997 Regulations (savings) applies the appropriate authority shall apply regulation 12 of the principal Regulations as if—

a

in paragraph (1) after “paragraph (2)” there were inserted “and paragraph (2A)”, and

b

after paragraph (2) there were inserted the following paragraph—

2A

This regulation shall not apply to any increase in a claimant’s eligible rent in respect of those service charges specified in the exceptions provided in paragraph 1(a)(iv)(cc), (c) or (f) of Schedule 1 (ineligible service charges) and Schedule 1C (service charges for claimants in supported accommodation).

5

In this regulation “appropriate authority” means the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.