Amendment of the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 20134

1

The Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 20138 is amended as follows.

2

In article 3, after paragraph (2) (broad rental market area determinations) insert—

2A

The power in paragraph (2) is not limited by paragraph 2(2A) or (2B) of Schedule 1.

3

In Schedule 1 (local housing allowance determinations)9—

a

in paragraph 2—

i

before sub-paragraph (3) insert—

2A

For a broad rental market area not listed in column 1 of the table in paragraph 5A, the local housing allowance for any category of accommodation is the lower of the amounts set out in sub-paragraph (3)(a) and (b).

2B

For a broad rental market area listed in column 1 of the table in paragraph 5A, the local housing allowance—

a

for a category of accommodation listed in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that table, is the lower of the amounts set out in sub-paragraph (3A)(a) and (b);

b

for a category of accommodation not so listed, is the lower of the amounts set out in sub-paragraph (3)(a) and (b).

ii

in paragraph (3)—

aa

for the words before paragraph (a) substitute “The amounts referred to in sub-paragraphs (2A) and (2B)(b) are—”;

bb

at the end of paragraph (a), for “or” substitute “and”;

cc

in paragraph (b), omit “, where that rent is lower than the allowance referred to in paragraph (a)”;

iii

after paragraph (3) insert—

3A

The amounts referred to in sub-paragraph (2B)(a) are—

a

the local housing allowance determined for that category of accommodation on 30th January 2015 (or, where the determination is amended under article 6 (redeterminations), the allowance as so redetermined), plus 3%; and

b

the maximum local housing allowance listed in column 2 of the following table for the category of accommodation—

1. Category of accommodation as defined in the following paragraphs of this Schedule

2. Maximum local housing allowance for that category of accommodation

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

£1129.42

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

£1129.42

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

£1310.13

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

£1536.01

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

£1807.07

b

after paragraph 5 insert—

5A

The table referred to in paragraph 2(2A) and (2B) is as follows—

1. Broad rental market area

2. Category of accommodation as defined in the following paragraphs of this Schedule

Aylesbury

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Aylesbury

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

Barrow-in-Furness

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Bedford

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

Bolton and Bury

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Bristol

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Bristol

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

Bury St. Edmunds

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Cambridge

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

Cambridge

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

Central London

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Central Norfolk and Norwich

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Chilterns

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

Flintshire

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Harlow and Stortford

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Inner North London

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Kings Lynn

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Lothian

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Luton

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Luton

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

Luton

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

Luton

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

Milton Keynes

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

Milton Keynes

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

Neath Port Talbot

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

North West Kent

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

North West London

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Outer East London

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Outer East London

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

Outer South London

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Outer South London

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

Outer South West London

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Outer West London

paragraph 1(1)(c) (two bedrooms)

Pembrokeshire

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Solihull

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

South West Essex

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

South West Herts

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

Southend

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Southern Greater Manchester

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Stevenage & North Herts

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Stevenage & North Herts

paragraph 1(1)(d) (three bedrooms)

Stevenage & North Herts

paragraph 1(1)(e) (four bedrooms)

Sunderland

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Swindon

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Swindon

paragraph 1(1)(b) (one bedroom, exclusive use)

Vale of Glamorgan

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Walton

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

Warwickshire South

paragraph 1(1)(a) (one bedroom, shared accommodation)

4

In Schedule 2 (housing payment determination)—

a

in paragraph 3(a)(ii), for the words beginning with “or” to the end substitute “(but see paragraph 4)”;

b

in paragraph 4, for the words beginning with “or” to the end substitute “or one local authority area adjoining an adjoining local authority area or, if the rent officer considers it necessary, more than one such area”.