The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 and shall come into operation on 31st January 2024.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment to the Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations 2008

2.—(1) The Schedule (Broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) to the Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(2) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2 (Local housing allowance for category of dwelling in paragraph 1)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—

(i) for “paragraph”, in the first place it occurs, substitute “paragraphs”;

(ii) after “allowances)” insert “and 3A (minimum local housing allowance)”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (2)(b), in column 2 of the table—

(i) in the row relating to paragraph 1(1)(a), for “£295.49” substitute “£331.39”;

(ii) in the row relating to paragraph 1(1)(b), for “£295.49” substitute “£331.39”;

(iii) in the row relating to paragraph 1(1)(c), for “£365.92” substitute “£412.86”;

(iv) in the row relating to paragraph 1(1)(d), for “£441.86” substitute “£497.10”;

(v) in the row relating to paragraph 1(1)(e), for “£593.75” substitute “£704.22”.

(3) In paragraph 3 (Anomalous local housing allowances)—

(a) before paragraph (a), for “Where—” substitute “Subject to paragraph 3A, where—”;

(b) in the words after paragraph (b), for “shall” substitute “is to”.

(4) After paragraph 3, insert—

“Minimum local housing allowance

3A.   Where—

(a) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has determined the local housing allowance for each of the categories of dwelling in paragraph 1(1) in accordance with paragraph 2 and, where relevant, paragraph 3 (Anomalous local housing allowances); and

(b) the local housing allowance as so determined for a category of dwelling is lower than the local housing allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st March 2020,

that local housing allowance is to be the same as the local housing allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st March 2020.”.

Amendment to the Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) Regulations 2016

3.—(1) Schedule 1 (Local Housing Allowance Determinations) to the Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(3) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2 (Local housing allowance for category of dwelling in paragraph 1)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—

(i) for “paragraph”, in the first place it occurs, substitute “paragraphs”;

(ii) after “allowances)” insert “and 6 (minimum local housing allowance)”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (2)(b), in column 2 of the table—

(i) in the row relating to paragraph 1(a), for “£1,283.96” substitute “£1,439.97”;

(ii) in the row relating to paragraph 1(b), for “£1,283.96” substitute “£1,439.97”;

(iii) in the row relating to paragraph 1(c), for “£1,589.99” substitute “£1,793.98”;

(iv) in the row relating to paragraph 1(d), for “£1,920.00” substitute “£2,160.02”;

(v) in the row relating to paragraph 1(e), for “£2,579.98” substitute “£3,060.00”.

(3) In paragraph 4 (Anomalous local housing allowances), before sub-paragraph (a) for “Where—” substitute “Subject to paragraph 6, where—“.

(4) At the end, insert—

“Minimum local housing allowance

6.   Where—

(a) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has determined the local housing allowance for each of the categories of accommodation in paragraph 1 in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 and, where relevant, paragraph 4 (Anomalous local housing allowances); and

(b) the local housing allowance as so determined for a category of accommodation is lower than the local housing allowance determined for that category of accommodation on 31st March 2020,

that local housing allowance is to be the same as the local housing allowance determined for that category of accommodation on 31st March 2020.”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 9th January 2024

(L.S.)

David Tarr

A senior officer of the Department for Communities