STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2007 No. 2871

HOUSING

The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Amendment Order 2007

  Made 2nd October 2007 
  Laid before Parliament 8th October 2007 
  Coming into force in accordance with article 1

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 122(1) and (6) of the Housing Act 1996[1].

Citation, commencement and interpretation
     1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Amendment Order 2007.

    (2) This article and articles 2 (application of the Rent Officers Order), 3 (amendment of the Rent Officers Order), 11 (application of the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order) and 12 (amendment of the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order) shall come into force on 20th March 2008.

    (3) Articles 4 and 13 shall come into force on 20th March immediately after the coming into force of articles 2, 3, 11 and 12.

    (4) Articles 5 to 10 and 14 to 19 shall come into force on 7th April 2008.

    (5) In this Order—

Application of the Rent Officers Order
     2. Those provisions of the Rent Officers Order which on 19th March 2008 apply only in relation to the area of a local authority listed in the Schedule, shall apply in the same way to the area of every other local authority in England and Wales.

Amendment of the Rent Officers Order
    
3. The Rent Officers Order shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.

Amendments to the Rent Officers Order relating to the local housing allowance coming into force on 20th March 2008
    
4. —(1) In article 2[5](interpretation)—

    (2) In article 4B[7] (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)—

    (3) In article 7A[8] (errors)—

    (4) After Schedule 3A[9] insert—



Amendments to the Rent Officers Order relating to the local housing allowance coming into force on 7th April 2008
    
5. —(1) In article 3(2)(a)[10] (determinations) omit ", except for a local authority which is a pathfinder authority,".

    (2) In article 4B(6)[11] (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) after "paragraph (2A)" insert ", (4) or (4A)".

Amendments to the Rent Officers Order relating to the local housing allowance coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     6. —(1) This article shall not apply where—

    (2) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(c) "original determination" means the broad rental market area determination, local housing allowance determination, board and attendance determination or board and attendance redetermination to which the correction of an error relates.

    (3) In article 2[14]—

    (4) In article 4B (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)—

    (5) For article 4C(1) and (2)[17] (board and attendance determinations and notifications) substitute—

    (6) In articles 4D (board and attendance redeterminations) and 4E[18] (substitute board and attendance determinations and substitute board and attendance redeterminations) for "pathfinder authority" in both places in which it occurs substitute "local authority".

    (7) In article 7A (errors)—

    (8) Omit Schedule 3A.

Amendments to the Rent Officers Order relating to information sharing coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     7. —(1) This article shall not apply where information is provided to the rent officer by virtue of regulation 14 or 114 of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 or, as the case may be, regulation 14 or 95 of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 as in force immediately before 7th April 2008.

    (2) For Article 4C(4) (board and attendance determinations and notifications) substitute—

    (3) In article 5[21] (insufficient information) for ", he shall serve notice on the local authority requesting that information" substitute "where the information supplied under regulation 114A of the Housing Benefit Regulations or regulation 95A of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations was incomplete or incorrect, he shall serve notice on the local authority requesting it to supply the further information required under regulation 114A or regulation 95A, as the case may be, or to confirm whether the information already supplied is correct and, if it is not, to supply the correct information".

    (4) For paragraph 7(3)[22] of Part 2 of Schedule 1 substitute—

Amendments to the Rent Officers Order relating to ineligible service charges coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     8. —(1) This article shall not apply where the rent officer is required to make a determination under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, or 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order by virtue of—

    (2) For paragraph 7(1) (ineligible charges and support charges) of Part 2 of Schedule 1 substitute—

Amendments to the Rent Officers Order relating to claim-related rent coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     9. —(1) This article shall not apply where the rent officer has made a determination under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers Order and that determination was made in relation to—

    (2) In paragraph 6[27] of Part 1 of Schedule 1—

    (3) In paragraph 9(1)[28] of Part 3 of Schedule 1—

Amendments to the Rent Officers Order which remake amendments made by the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006
     10. —(1) In article 2[29] (interpretation)—

    (2) In article 3A[30] (transitional arrangements for determination of single room rents with effect from 2nd July 2001), for "regulation 12A of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 14 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 14 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (3) In article 4A[31] (substitute determinations and substitute redeterminations), for "regulation 12C of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (4) In article 4E[32] (substitute board and attendance determinations and substitute board and attendance redeterminations), wherever "regulation 12C of the 1987 Regulations" occurs, substitute "regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (5) In article 6[33] (exceptions)—

    (6) In article 7[34] (special cases), for "regulation 10(1) of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (7) In Schedule 1[35]—

    (8) In Schedule 3A (categories of dwelling)[36], in Part 1, in paragraph 1(2)(b), for "regulation 3 of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 3 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 3 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations.".

Application of the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order
     11. Those provisions of the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order which on 19th March 2008 apply only in relation to the areas of the local authority of Argyll and Bute and the local authority of Edinburgh, shall apply in the same way to the area of every other local authority in Scotland.

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order
    
12. The Rent Officers (Scotland) Order shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order relating to the local housing allowance coming into force on 20th March 2008
    
13. —(1) In article 2[37] (interpretation)—

    (2) In article 4B[39] (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)—

    (3) In article 7A[40] (errors)—

    (4) After Schedule 3A[41] insert—



Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order relating the to local housing allowance coming into force on 7th April 2008
    
14. —(1) In article 3(2)(a)[42] (determinations) omit "except in relation to the area of a local authority which is a pathfinder authority".

    (2) In article 4B(6)[43] (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) after "paragraph (2A)" insert ", (4) or (4A)".

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order relating to the local housing allowance coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     15. —(1) This article shall not apply where—

    (2) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(c) "original determination" means the broad rental market area determination, local housing allowance determination, board and attendance determination or board and attendance redetermination to which the correction of an error relates.

    (3) In article 2[46]—

    (4) In article 4B (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)—

    (5) For article 4C(1) and (2)[49] (board and attendance determinations and notifications) substitute—

    (6) In articles 4D (board and attendance redeterminations) and 4E[50] (substitute board and attendance determinations and substitute board and attendance redeterminations) for "pathfinder authority" in both places in which it occurs substitute "local authority".

    (7) In article 7A (errors)—

    (8) Omit Schedule 3A.

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order relating to information sharing coming into force on 7th April 2008
     16. —(1) This article shall not apply where information is provided to the rent officer by virtue of regulation 14 or 114 of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 or, as the case may be, regulation 14 or 95 of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 as in force immediately before 7th April 2008.

    (2) For Article 4C(4) (board and attendance determinations and notifications) substitute—

    (3) In article 5[53] (insufficient information) for ", he shall serve notice on the local authority requesting that information" substitute "where the information supplied under regulation 114A of the Housing Benefit Regulations or regulation 95A of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations was incomplete or incorrect, he shall serve notice on the local authority requesting it to supply the further information required under regulation 114A or regulation 95A, as the case may be, or to confirm whether the information already supplied is correct and, if it is not, to supply the correct information".

    (4) For paragraph 7(3)[54] of Part 2 of Schedule 1 substitute—

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order relating to ineligible service charges coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     17. —(1) This article shall not apply where the rent officer is required to make a determination under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, or 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order by virtue of—

    (2) For paragraph 7(1) (ineligible charges and support charges) of Part 2 of Schedule 1 substitute—

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order relating to claim-related rent coming into force on 7th April 2008 save for certain purposes
     18. —(1) This article shall not apply where the rent officer has made a determination under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order and that determination was made in relation to—

    (2) In paragraph 6[57] of Part 1 of Schedule 1—

    (3) In paragraph 9(1)[58] of Part 3 of Schedule 1—

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Scotland) Order which remake amendments made by the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006
     19. —(1) In article 2[59] (interpretation)—

    (2) In article 3A[60] (transitional arrangements for determination of single room rents with effect from 2nd July 2001), for "regulation 12A of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 14 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 14 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (3) In article 4A[61] (substitute determinations and substitute redeterminations), for "regulation 12C of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (4) In article 4E[62] (substitute board and attendance determinations and substitute board and attendance redeterminations), wherever "regulation 12C of the 1987 Regulations" occurs, substitute "regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (5) In article 6[63] (exceptions)—

    (6) In article 7[64] (special cases), for "regulation 10(1) of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations".

    (7) In Schedule 1[65]—

    (8) In Schedule 3A[66] (categories of dwelling), in Part 1, in paragraph 1(2)(b), for "regulation 3 of the 1987 Regulations" substitute "regulation 3 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 3 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations.".



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions


James Plaskitt
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions

2nd October 2007



SCHEDULE
Article 2


Listed authorities


Blackpool
Brighton and Hove
Conwy
Coventry
East Riding of Yorkshire
Guildford
Leeds
Lewisham
North East Lincolnshire
Norwich
Pembrokeshire
St Helens
Salford
South Norfolk
Teignbridge
Wandsworth



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)


This Order amends the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 ("the Rent Officers Order") and the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 which confer functions on rent officers in connection with housing benefit and rent allowance subsidy.

This Order, together with the Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance and Information Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2007 and the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) (Local Housing Allowance and Information Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2007 (referred to collectively in this note as "the Regulations") and the Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance, Miscellaneous and Consequential) Amendment Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2870), provides for the national rollout of a modified version of the local housing allowance arrangements. These are a way of determining housing costs eligible to met by housing benefit using local housing allowances determined by rent officers. The local housing allowance arrangements ("the pathfinder regime") have operated in the areas of 18 local authorities ("pathfinder authorities").

Article 2 applies the pathfinder regime provisions of the Rent Officers Order to all local authorities.

Article 4 amends article 4B by inserting paragraphs (1A), which requires rent officers to make broad rental market determinations for the national rollout of the local housing allowance, (2A) which requires rent officers to make local housing allowance determinations for the national rollout of the local housing allowance and (3A) which sets the date on which the determinations take effect. These provisions will come into force in advance of the national rollout of the provisions relating to the local housing allowance in the Regulations and will exist alongside the provisions relating to the pathfinder authorities. This is so that the determinations needed for the national rollout of the local housing allowance are made in advance of rollout day.

It also inserts Schedule 3B which makes provision in relation to the determination of broad rental market determinations and local housing allowance determinations for the national rollout of the provisions relating to the local housing allowance. This will exist alongside Schedule 3A which makes provision in relation to those determinations for pathfinder authorities.

It also amends the definitions of "broad rental market area", "broad rental market area determinations" and "local housing allowance determinations" to refer to both the national rollout and existing pathfinder relating to broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations and makes consequential amendments to article 7A, which provides for the correction of errors in determinations. Article 3(2)(a) amends paragraph (1) of article 4B to ensure that rent officers will not be required to make pathfinder broad rental market area determinations in relation to non-pathfinder authorities.

Article 5 makes consequential amendments to articles 3 and 4B to reflect amendments to the Regulations.

Article 6 makes the amendments required to remove the remaining elements of the pathfinder regime, except where those elements are required for the correction of errors in relation to broad rental market area determinations, local housing allowance determinations, board and attendance determinations and board and attendance redeterminations where the original determination was made under the pathfinder regime. There is an exception where a local housing allowance determination is to be made under the pathfinder regime in cases where no local housing allowance determination exists for the relevant size of dwelling. There is a further exception which relates to board and attendance determinations, board and attendance redeterminations, substitute board and attendance determinations and substitute board and attendance redeterminations where the original determination was made, or should be made, under the pathfinder regime.

Article 7 makes amendments which are consequential upon the amendment of the Regulations relating to the provision of information to rent officers. It also amends the date on which an application for a rent officer determination under regulation 14(1) of the Regulations is treated as made where a rent officer has determined that a substantial part of the rent under the tenancy is fairly attributable to board and attendance. It also makes express provision in relation to incorrect information.

Article 8 makes amendments to paragraph 7 of Part 2 of Schedule 1. The amendments will not apply to cases where the rent officer is required to make a determination under paragraphs 1, 2, 3 or 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 in relation to a determination applied for under regulation 14 of the Regulations as it was in force immediately before the coming into force of the amendments relating to the rollout of the local housing allowance.

Article 9 makes amendments to paragraphs 6 and 9 of Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 1. The amendments will not apply to determinations that were made under paragraphs 1 to 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 in relation to a determination applied for under regulation 14 of the Regulations as it was in force immediately before the coming into force of the amendments relating to the national rollout of the local housing allowance.

Article 10 remakes amendments to the Order that were made in the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006 and updates references to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006. (The main power under which these amendments were originally made will be repealed when the power used to provide for the national rollout of the local housing allowance arrangements is commenced and therefore the amendments made using that power will cease to have effect.)

Articles 11 to 19 make equivalent amendments in the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no direct impact on the costs of businesses, charities and the voluntary sector.


Notes:

[1] 1996 c. 52. Section 122 was amended by sections 40 and 67 of and Schedule 5, paragraph 12 and Schedule 8 to the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5).back

[2] 1992 c. 5.back

[3] S.I. 1997/1984.back

[4] S.I. 1997/1995.back

[5] The definitions of "broad rental market area", "broad rental market area determination" and "local housing allowance determination" were inserted by S.I. 2003/2398.back

[6] 1971 c.80.back

[7] Article 4B was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[8] Article 7A was inserted by S.I. 2000/1 and amended by S.I. 2003/2398.back

[9] Schedule 3A was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[10] Article 3(2)(a) was amended by S.I. 2003/2398.back

[11] Paragraph (6) of article 4B is inserted by article 4(2)(e) of this Order.back

[12] S.I. 2006/213. Regulation 13A was inserted into the Regulations, as they applied to pathfinder authorities, by regulation 122 of and Schedule 10 to those Regulations.back

[13] S.I. 2006/214. Regulation 13A was inserted into the Regulations, as they applied to pathfinder authorities, by regulation 103 of and Schedule 9 to those Regulations.back

[14] The definitions of "broad rental market area", "broad rental market area determination" and "local housing allowance determination" are amended by article 4(1) of this Order. The definition of "pathfinder authority" was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398. The definition of "relevant date" was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and substituted by S.I. 2006/217.back

[15] Regulation 13D is inserted by regulation 7 of S.I. 2007/2868.back

[16] Regulation 13D is inserted by regulation 7 of S.I. 2007/2869.back

[17] Article 4C was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[18] Articles 4D and 4E were inserted by S.I. 2003/2398. Article 4E was amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[19] Regulation 114A is inserted by S.I. 2007/2868.back

[20] Regulation 95A is inserted by S.I. 2007/2869.back

[21] Article 5 was amended by S.I. 2000/1 and 2006/217.back

[22] Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 was substituted by S.I. 2000/1. Sub-paragraph (1)(a) was substituted by S.I. 2006/217 and sub-paragraph (1)(b) was amended by S.I. 2003/2398. Sub-paragraph (3) was amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[23] S.I. 2007/ 2868.back

[24] S.I. 2007/ 2869.back

[25] Regulation 12B is inserted by regulation 5 of S.I. 2007/2868.back

[26] Regulation 12B is inserted by regulation 5 of S.I. 2007/2868.back

[27] Paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 was substituted by S.I. 2000/1.back

[28] Paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 1 was amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[29] The definitions of "hostel" and "rent" were substituted by S.I. 2006/217 and the definitions of "Housing Benefit Regulations" and "Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations" were inserted by S.I. 2006/217.back

[30] Article 3A was inserted by S.I. 2001/1325 and amended by S.I. 2001/2317 and 2006/217.back

[31] Article 4A was substituted by S.I. 2000/1 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[32] Article 4E was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[33] Article 6 was amended by S.I. 2003/2398 and 2006/217.back

[34] Article 7 was amended by S.I. 2000/1 and 2006/217.back

[35] Paragraphs 4(4) and 11(5)(b) of Schedule 1 were amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[36] Schedule 3A was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[37] The definitions of "broad rental market area", "broad rental market area determination" and "local housing allowance determination" were inserted by S.I. 2003/2398.back

[38] 1971 c.80.back

[39] Article 4B was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[40] Article 7A was inserted by S.I. 2000/3 and amended by S.I. 2003/2398.back

[41] Schedule 3A was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[42] Article 3(2)(a) was amended by S.I. 2003/2398.back

[43] Paragraph (6) of article 4B is inserted by article 13(2)(e) of this Order.back

[44] S.I. 2006/213. Regulation 13A was inserted into the Regulations, as they applied to pathfinder authorities, by regulation 122 of and Schedule 10 to those Regulations.back

[45] S.I. 2006/214. Regulation 13A was inserted into the Regulations, as they applied to pathfinder authorities, by regulation 103 of and Schedule 9 to those Regulations.back

[46] The definitions of "broad rental market area", "broad rental market area determination" and "local housing allowance determination" are amended by article 13(1) of this Order. The definition of "pathfinder authority" was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398. The definition of "relevant date" was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and substituted by S.I. 2006/217.back

[47] Regulation 13D is inserted by S.I. 2007/2868.back

[48] Regulation 13D is inserted by S.I. 2007/2869.back

[49] Article 4C was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[50] Articles 4D and 4E were inserted by S.I. 2003/2398. Article 4E was amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[51] Regulation 114A is inserted by S.I. 2007/2868.back

[52] Regulation 95A is inserted by S.I. 2007/2869.back

[53] Article 5 was amended by S.I. 2000/3 and 2006/217.back

[54] Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 was substituted by S.I. 2000/3. Sub-paragraph (1)(a) was substituted by S.I. 2006/217 and sub-paragraph (1)(b) was amended by S.I. 2003/2398. Sub-paragraph (3) was amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[55] S.I. 2007/2868.back

[56] S.I. 2007/ 2869.back

[57] Paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 was substituted by S.I. 2000/3.back

[58] Paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 1 was amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[59] The definitions of "hostel" and "rent" were substituted by S.I. 2006/217 and the definitions of "Housing Benefit Regulations" and "Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations" were inserted by S.I. 2006/217.back

[60] Article 3A was inserted by S.I. 2001/1326 and amended by S.I. 2001/2318 and 2006/217.back

[61] Article 4A was substituted by S.I. 2000/3 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[62] Article 4E was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[63] Article 6 was amended by S.I. 2003/2398 and 2006/217.back

[64] Article 7 was amended by S.I. 2000/3 and 2006/217.back

[65] Paragraphs 4(4) and 11(5)(b) of Schedule 1 were amended by S.I. 2006/217.back

[66] Schedule 3A was inserted by S.I. 2003/2398 and amended by S.I. 2006/217.back



ISBN 978 0 11 078817 3