The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

Restriction on meeting housing costs under this Schedule E+W+S

10.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), where—

(a) the dwelling occupied as the home is occupied with security of tenure, that is to say—

(i) under a protected or statutory tenancy for the purposes of the Rent Act 1977 F1 or the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 F2 , excluding any case in which the tenant has been given a notice to which any Case in Part II of Schedule 15 to the Act of 1977 or, as the case may be, Part II of Schedule 2 to the Act of 1984 (cases in which Court must order possession where dwelling-house subject to regulated tenancy) applies;

(ii) under a secure tenancy for the purposes of Chapter II of Part I of the Housing Act 1980 F3 or Part II of the Tenants' Rights Etc (Scotland) Act 1980 F4 (security of tenure of public sector tenants);

(iii) where the tenant is a protected occupier or statutory tenant for the purposes of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 F5 ; or

(iv) under a crofting tenancy for the purposes of the Crofters (Scotland) Acts 1955 and 1961 F6 ;

(b) the claimant or, if he is a member of a family, any member of the family acquires some other interest in the dwelling occupied as the home; and

(c) in consequence of the acquisition the aggregate of any amounts which would, but for this paragraph, be applicable under paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 exceed the amount of the eligible rent for the purposes of regulation 10 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (rent) immediately before the acquisition,

the aggregate amount so applicable shall initially be restricted to the amount of the eligible rent immediately before the acquisition and shall be increased subsequently only to the extent that this is necessary to take account of any increase, after the date of the acquisition, in expenditure on any housing costs.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) shall not apply where the claimant or the member of the family became liable to complete the acquisition at a time when income support was not payable in respect of him;

(b) shall cease to apply if its application becomes inappropriate by reason of any major change in the circumstances of the family affecting their ability to meet expenditure on housing costs;

(c) shall cease to apply where income support ceases to be payable in respect of the claimant or his family except that it shall reapply wherever income support again becomes payable within a period of eight weeks or less.

(3) Where the amounts to be met under paragraphs 7 to 9 and, subject to any deduction applicable under paragraph 11 are excessive, they shall be subject to restriction in accordance with sub-paragraphs (4) to (6).

(4) Subject to sub-paragraphs (5) and (6), the amounts to be met shall be regarded as excessive and shall be restricted and the excess not allowed, if and to the extent that—

(a) the dwelling occupied as the home, excluding any part which is let F7 ..., is larger than is required by the claimant and his family and any child or young person to whom regulation 16(4) applies (foster children) and any other non-dependants having regard, in particular, to suitable alternative accommodation occupied by a household of the same size; or

(b) the immediate area in which the dwelling occupied as the home is located is more expensive than other areas in which suitable alternative accommodation exists; or

(c) the outgoings of the dwelling occupied as the home in respect of which the amounts to be met under paragraphs 7 to 10 are higher than the outgoings of suitable alternative accommodation in the area.

(5) Where, having regard to the relevant factors, it is not reasonable to expect the claimant and his family to seek alternative cheaper accommodation no restrictions shall be made [F8 under sub-paragraph (3)].

(6) Where sub-paragraph (5) does not apply and the claimant (or other member of the family) was able to meet the financial commitments for the dwelling occupied as the home when these were entered into, no restriction shall be made under this paragraph during the first six months of any period of entitlement to income support nor during the next six months if and so long as the claimant uses his best endeavours to obtain cheaper accommodation.

(7) [F9 In sub-paragraph (5)] “the relevant factors” are—

(a) the availability of suitable accommodation and the level of housing costs in the area; and

(b) the circumstances of the family including in particular the age and state of health of its members, the employment prospects of the claimant and, where a change in accommodation is likely to result in a change of school, the effect on the education of any child or young person who is a member of his family, or any child or young person who is not treated as part of his family by virtue of regulation 16(4) (foster children).

Textual Amendments

F1 1977 c. 42; Part II of Schedule 15 was amended by the Housing Act 1980 (c. 51) sections 55, 66, 67 and by the Rent (Amendment) Act 1955 (c. 24) section 2.

F2 1984 c. 58.

F3 1980 c. 51.

F4 1980 c. 52.

F5 1976 c. 80.

F6 1955 (c. 21), 1961 (c. 58).

F7 Words in Sch. 3 para. 10(4)(a) omitted (10.4.1989) by virtue of The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1445), reg. 1(1)(c), Sch. 1 para. 6 (with reg. 28)

F8 Words in Sch. 3 para. 10(5) substituted (9.10.1989) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1678), regs. 1(1)(a), 7(b)(i)

F9 Words in Sch. 3 para. 10(7) substituted (9.10.1989) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1678), regs. 1(1)(a), 7(b)(ii)

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 para. 10 in force at 11.4.1988, see reg. 1