The Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the Housing Benefit Regulations”), the Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the 1996 Regulations”) and the Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”). The amendments made to the Housing Benefit Regulations and the 1996 Regulations by the 1999 Regulations cease to have effect in April 2003. These Regulations clarify from April 2003 which service charges payable by a claimant can be met by housing benefit, following the introduction of payments for housing support services under Article 4 of the Housing Support Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.

Regulation 2 amends regulation 12 of the Housing Benefit Regulations to require the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to restrict rent increases when the conditions in that regulation apply.

Regulation 3 amends the circumstances in which the costs of cleaning exterior windows and communal areas of a claimant’s accommodation can be met by housing benefit under Schedule 1 to the Housing Benefit Regulations. It also amends the provisions in relation to service charges for emergency alarm systems and general counselling.

Regulation 4 amends the definition of “exempt accommodation” in the 1996 Regulations.

Regulation 5 amends the provisions on the cessation of the 1999 Regulations.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.