Citation and commencement1
1
This Order may be cited as the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997.
2
This article and articles 8 and 10(1) shall come into force on 18th August 1997 and all the other articles shall come into force on 3rd September 1997.
Interpretation2
1
In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires—
F80...
“assured tenancy" has the same meaning as in Part I of the Housing Act 1988, except that it includes a tenancy which would be an assured tenancy but for paragraph 2 F19, 8 or 10 of Schedule 1 to that Act and a licence which would be an assured tenancy (within the extended meaning given in this definition) were it a tenancy;
F12“board and attendance determination” means a determination made in accordance with article 4C;
F46“broad rental market area” has the meaning specified in paragraph 4 of Part I of Schedule 3AF36or paragraph 4 of Schedule 3B, as the case may be,to this Order;F46“broad rental market area” has the meaning specified in paragraph 4 of Schedule 3B;
F47“broad rental market area determination” means a determination made in accordance with article 4B(1)F37or 4B(1A), as the case may be;F47“broad rental market area determination” means a determination made in accordance with article 4B(1A);
“child" means a person under the age of 16;
“determination" means a determination made in accordance with Part I or IV of Schedule 1 to this Order;
“dwelling" means any residential accommodation whether or not consisting of the whole or part of a building and whether or not comprising separate and self-contained premises;
F51F20“hostel” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations;F51 “hostel” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations;
F52F21 “the Housing Benefit Regulations” mean the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006;
F52 “the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations” means the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006;
F88“introductory standard contract” has the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 16 of that Act;
“local authority" has the same meaning as in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 M1 in relation to England and in relation to Wales;
F48F12“local housing allowance determination” means a determination made in accordance with article 4B(2)F38or article 4B(2A), as the case may be;F48“local housing allowance determination” means a determination made in accordance with article 4B(2A);
F88“occupation contract” has the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 7 of that Act);
“occupier" means a person (whether or not identified by name) who is stated, in the application for the determination, to occupy the dwelling as his home;
F49F12“pathfinder authority” means a local authority specified in column (1) of the table in Part II of Schedule 3A, on and after the date specified in column (2) of that table in relation to that authority;F76“person who requires overnight care” has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations and the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations;
F88“private landlord” has the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 10 of that Act);
F88“private registered provider of social housing” has the meaning given by section 80(3) of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;
“redetermination" means a redetermination made in accordance with article 4;
F88“registered social landlord” means a person registered in the register maintained under section 1 of the Housing Act 1996;
F50F22“relevant date” means the date specified by a pathfinder authority in an application for a local housing allowance determination made in accordance with regulation 13A(4)(a) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 13A(4)(a) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations;F50 “relevant date” means the date specified by a local authority in an application for a local housing allowance determination made in accordance with regulation 13D(7)(a) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 13D(7)(a) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations;
F3“relevant period” means–
- a
in relation to a determination, the period of five working days (or, where the determination does not relate to a prospective tenancy and the rent officer intends to inspect the dwelling before making the determination, 25 working days) beginning with–
- i
where the rent officer requests further information under article 5, the date on which he receives the information; and
- ii
in any other case, the date on which he receives the application for the determination; and
- i
- b
in relation to a redetermination, the period of 20 working days beginning with–
- i
where the rent officer requests further information under article 5, the date on which he receives the information; and
- ii
in any other case, the date on which he receives the application for that redetermination;
- i
- a
“relevant time" means the time the application F13or board and attendance determination is made or, if earlier, the tenancy ends;
F53F23“rent” means any of the periodical payments referred to in 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;F53 “rent” means any of the periodical payments referred to in 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;
F88“secure contract” has the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 8 of that Act);
“size criteria" means the standards relating to bedrooms and rooms suitable for living in specified in Schedule 2 to this Order;
F88“standard contract” has the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 8 of that Act), but does not include—
- a
an introductory standard contract,
- b
a prohibited conduct standard contract within the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 116 of that Act), or
- c
a supported standard contract within the meaning given by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (see section 143 of that Act);
- a
“tenancy" includes—
- a
a licence; and
- b
a prospective tenancy or licence; and
references to a tenant, a landlord or any other expression appropriate to a tenancy shall be construed accordingly; and
- a
F39working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.
2
In this Order any reference to a notice or application is to a notice or application in writing, except in a case where the recipient consents (whether generally or specifically) to the notice or application being transmitted by electronic means.
Determinations3
1
Subject to F9articles 3A and 6, where a local authority, in accordance with regulations made under section 136(2) or (3) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 F4or section 122(5) of the Housing Act 1996, applies to a rent officer for determinations in respect of a tenancy of a dwelling, a rent officer shall—
a
make the determinations in accordance with Part I of Schedule 1 (determinations);
b
comply with Part II of Schedule 1 when making the determinations (assumptions etc.); and
c
give notice in accordance with Part III of Schedule 1 (notifications) F5within the relevant period or as soon as is practicable after that period.
2
A rent officer for each registration area (within the meaning of section 62 of the Rent Act 1977 M2), on the first working day of each month, shall—
a
make determinations in accordance with Part IV of Schedule 1 (indicative rent levels) in relation to the area of each local authority F55... within the registration area;
b
comply with paragraph 8(2) of Part II of Schedule 1 (assumptions etc.) when making the determinations; and
c
give to the local authority notice of the determinations relating to its area when they have been made.
F8Transitional arrangements for determination of Single Room Rents with effect from 2nd July 20013A
In a case where the rent officer has made and notified an authority of a determination of a single room rent pursuant to paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 in the period of 12 months before 2nd July 2001 that determination shall cease to have effect on F10 ... 2nd July 2001 and a rent officer shall—
a
make a new determination of that single room rent in accordance with Part I of Schedule 1;
b
comply with Part II of Schedule 1; and
c
give notice in accordance with Part III of Schedule 1 within the relevant period or as soon as is practicable after that period;
F1Redeterminations4
1
Subject to article 6, where the local authority applies to a rent officer for a redetermination of any determination or redetermination in respect of a tenancy of a dwelling the rent officer shall, in accordance with Schedule 3–
a
make redeterminations of any effective determinations and any effective redeterminations in respect of that tenancy; and
b
give notice within the relevant period or as soon as is practicable after that period.
2
For the purposes of paragraph (1)–
a
“effective determinations” means any determinations made in accordance with Part I of Schedule 1 which have effect at the date of the application for a redetermination of a determination or redetermination; and
b
“effective redeterminations” means any redeterminations made in accordance with Schedule 3 which have effect at that date.
3
A rent officer whose advice is sought as provided for in Schedule 3 shall give that advice.
Substitute determinations and substitute redeterminations4A
1
Where a local authority applies to a rent officer for a substitute determination, in accordance with F57F26 regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, the provisions of this Order shall apply to that substitute determination as they apply to a determination, but as if references to the relevant time were references to the date the application for the original determination was made or, if earlier, the date the tenancy ended.
2
Where a local authority applies to a rent officer for a substitute redetermination, in accordance with that regulation, the provisions of this Order shall apply to that substitute redetermination as they apply to a redetermination.
F11Broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations4B
1
F58On the day on which this article comes into force in relation to a F40pathfinder authority and so often thereafter as a rent officer, having regard to the definition of “broad rental market area” in paragraph (1) of article 2, considers appropriate, a rent officer shall—
a
determine one or more broad rental market areas which will (during the month which next begins after the determination is made) fall, in whole or in part, within the area of that local authority so that every part of the area of that authority falls within a broad rental market area and no part of the area of that authority falls within more than one broad rental market area; and
b
give to that authority a notice which—
i
specifies the area contained within each broad rental market area as falls, in whole or in part, within the area of that authority, by reference to the postcodes for each such broad rental market area; and
ii
identifies such of those postcodes as fall within the area of that authority.
F411A
F77At such times as a rent officer considers appropriate, a rent officer shall, if the Secretary of State agrees, in relation to each local authority,—
a
determine one or more broad rental market areas which will (during the month which next begins after the determination is made) fall, in whole or in part, within the area of the local authority so that every part of the area of that local authority falls within a broad rental market area and no part of the area of that authority falls within more than one broad rental market area; and
b
give to that local authority a notice which—
i
specifies the area contained within each broad rental market area as falls, in whole or in part, within the area of that authority, by reference to the postcodes for each such broad rental market area; and
ii
identifies such of those postcodes as fall within the area of that authority.
2
F58No more than 5 and not less than 3 working days before the end of each month a rent officer shall—
a
determine, in accordance with the provisions of Part I of Schedule 3A—
i
a local housing allowance for each of the categories of dwelling set out in paragraph 1 of that Part; and
ii
local housing allowances for such other categories of dwelling of more than six rooms as a rent officer believes are likely to be required for the purpose of calculating housing benefit,
for each broad rental market area falling within, in whole or in part, the area of any local authority which is (or will be) a pathfinder authority during the month which follows; and
b
give to each such authority notice of the local housing allowance determinations made in accordance with paragraph (a) for each broad rental market area falling within, in whole or in part, the area of that authority.
F782A
F81In 2014 and in each subsequent year, on the date specified in paragraph (2B), a rent officer shall—
a
for each broad rental market area determine, in accordance with Schedule 3B, a local housing allowance for each of the categories of dwelling set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3B; and
b
notify each local authority of the local housing allowance determination made in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) for each broad rental market area falling within, in whole or in part, the area of that authority.
F822B
The date specified for the purposes of paragraph (2A) is the last working day of January F85and also the 31st March 2020.
3
F58Any broad rental market area determination made in accordance with paragraph (1), or local housing allowance determination made in accordance with paragraph (2), shall take effect on the first working day of the month which begins after the day on which the determination is made.
F793A
Any broad rental market area determination made in accordance with paragraph (1A) shall take effect—
a
on the day the determination is made for the purpose of enabling a rent officer to determine a local housing allowance for that area; and
F87b
for all other purposes on the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made.
3B
Any local housing allowance determination made in accordance with paragraph (2A) shall take effect on the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made F86, and the determinations made on the 31st March 2020 shall take effect (on 1st April 2020) in place of the determinations made on the 31st January 2020.
F734
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F59Where a pathfinder authority—
a
makes an application in accordance with F27regulation 13A(4)(a) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 13A(4)(a) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, a rent officer shall determine, in accordance with the provisions of Part I of Schedule 3A and as soon as is reasonably practicable, the local housing allowance for that category of dwelling at the relevant date, for each broad rental market area falling within, in whole or in part, the area of the pathfinder authority that made the application, at the relevant date; or
b
makes an application in accordance with F28regulation 13A(5) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 13A(5) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, a rent officer shall determine, in accordance with the provisions of Part I of Schedule 3A and as soon as is reasonably practicable, the local housing allowance for that category of dwelling for each broad rental market area falling within, in whole or in part, the area of the pathfinder authority.
F744A
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Where a rent officer has made a local housing allowance determination in accordance with paragraph (4)—
a
he shall give notice of the determination to the F60local authority that made the application;
b
any local housing allowance determination made in accordance with sub-paragraph (4)(a) shall take effect for the month in which the relevant date falls F61, except that no such determination can have effect before 7th April 2008; and
c
any local housing allowance determination made in accordance with sub-paragraph (4)(b) shall take effect for the month in which notice is given in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) F62, except that no such determination can have effect before 7th April 2008.
F426
Where a rent officer has made a local housing allowance determination in accordance with paragraph (2A) F75 ... he shall—
a
make an approximate monthly allowance determination in relation to that local housing allowance determination; and
b
give notice of the approximate monthly allowance determination to each authority to which he is required to give notice of the local housing allowance determination when he gives notice of that determination.
Board and attendance determinations and notifications4C
1
F63Where a pathfinder authority makes an application to a rent officer in accordance with F29regulation 17(6) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 13A(6) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, a rent officer shall determine whether or not a substantial part of the rent under the tenancy at the relevant time is fairly attributable to board and attendance.
F63Where a relevant authority makes an application to a rent officer in accordance with regulation 13D(10) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 13D(10) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, a rent officer shall determine whether or not a substantial part of the rent under the tenancy at the relevant time is fairly attributable to board and attendance.
2
F63Where a rent officer determines that a substantial part of the rent under the tenancy at the relevant time is fairly attributable to board and attendance, he shall—
a
notify the pathfinder authority accordingly; and
b
treat the application as if it has been made in accordance with F30regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations.
F63Where a rent officer determines that a substantial part of the rent under the tenancy at the relevant time is fairly attributable to board and attendance, he shall—
a
notify the relevant authority accordingly; and
b
treat the application as if it had been made in accordance with regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations.
3
Where a rent officer determines that a substantial part of the rent under the tenancy at the relevant time is not fairly attributable to board and attendance, he shall notify the pathfinder authority accordingly.
4
F64Where an application for a board and attendance determination is treated as if it has been made in accordance with F31regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, then, for the purposes of paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of “relevant period” in article 2(1), it shall be treated as having been received on the day on which the determination referred to in paragraph (2) is made.
F64Where an application for a board and attendance determination is treated as if it had been made in accordance with regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 14(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, then, for the purposes of paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of “relevant period” in article 2(1), it shall be treated as having been received on the day on which the further information provided in accordance with regulation 114A(4) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or regulation 95A(4) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations is received.
Board and attendance redeterminations4D
1
Subject to article 6, where a F65pathfinder authorityF65local authority applies to a rent officer for a redetermination of a board and attendance determination or board and attendance redetermination, the rent officer shall, in accordance with paragraph (2)—
a
make a redetermination of—
i
the board and attendance determination, provided it was made in accordance with article 4C and had effect at the date of the application for it to be redetermined; or
ii
the board and attendance redetermination provided it was made in accordance with head (i), and had effect at the date of the application for it to be redetermined; and
b
notify the pathfinder authority of the redetermination.
2
When making a board and attendance redetermination under this article, the rent officer shall seek, and have regard to, the advice of one or two other rent officers in relation to the redetermination.
3
A rent officer whose advice is sought in accordance with paragraph (2) shall give that advice.
4
Article 4C shall apply in relation to a board and attendance redetermination but as if the references to the relevant time were references to the date on which the original application for a board and attendance determination was made, or if earlier, to the date on which the tenancy ended.
Substitute board and attendance determinations and substitute board and attendance redeterminations4E
1
Where a
F65
pathfinder authority
F65
local authority
applies to a rent officer for a substitute board and attendance determination in accordance with
F66F32
regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations
, the provisions of this Order shall apply to that substitute board and attendance determination as they apply to a board and attendance determination but as if references to the relevant time were references to the date on which the original application for a board and attendance determination was made or, if earlier, the date on which the tenancy ended.
2
Where a pathfinder authority applies to a rent officer for a substitute board and attendance redetermination in accordance with F66F32 regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 17 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, the provisions of this Order shall apply to that substitute board and attendance redetermination as they apply to a board and attendance redetermination.
Insufficient information5
If a rent officer needs further information in order to make a determination under article 3(1)F14, a redetermination under article 4, a board and attendance determination under article 4C or a board and attendance redetermination under article 4DF67, he shall serve notice on the local authority requesting that information F67where 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 informationF6....
Exceptions6
1
No determinationF15, redetermination, board and attendance determination or board and attendance redetermination shall be made if the application for it is withdrawn.
2
No determination shall be made under paragraph 3, 4 or 5 of Part I of Schedule 1 if the tenancy is of residential accommodation, within the meaning of F68F33 regulation 9(4) of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, regulation 9(4) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (registered homes etc.) M3, or in a hostel.
3
No determination shall be made under paragraph 5 of Part I of Schedule 1 unless the local authority states in the application that the claimant is, or may be, a young individual (which has the same meaning as in F69F34 the Housing Benefit Regulations and the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations).
4
If the rent officer becomes aware that an application is not one which gives rise to a duty to make a determinationF16, redetermination, board and attendance determination or a board and attendance redetermination, the rent officer shall give the local authority notice to that effect.
Special cases7
1
This Order shall apply as specified in Schedule 4 in relation to—
a
mooring charges payable for a houseboat;
b
payments in respect of the site on which a caravan or mobile home stands; or
c
payments under a rental purchase agreement.
2
F73
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F74
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2Errors7A
F171
If a rent officer is of the opinion that he has made an error (other than in the application of his professional judgement) in relation to a determination or redetermination, he shall notify the local authority which made the application for that determination or redetermination of the error as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of it.
F182
If a rent officer is of the opinion that he has made an error (other than in the application of his professional judgement) in relation to a board and attendance determination or board and attendance redetermination, he shall notify the F71pathfinder authority F71local authority which made the application for that board and attendance determination or board and attendance redetermination of the error as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of it.
3
F72If a rent officer is of the opinion that he has made an error (other than in the application of his professional judgement) in relation to a broad rental market area determination F43determined in accordance with article 4B(1) or a local housing allowance determination F44determined in accordance with article 4B(2), he shall notify any pathfinder authority to which notification of that determination was sent of the error, and the amended determination, as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of it.
F454
If a rent officer is of the opinion that he has made an error (other than in the application of his professional judgement) in relation to a broad rental market area determination determined in accordance with article 4B(1A) or a local housing allowance determination determined in accordance with article 4B(2A), he shall notify any local authority to which notification of that determination was sent of the error, and the amended determination, as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of it.
Amendment to 1995 Order8
The Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1995 shall be amended by the insertion at the end of article 6 (special cases) of the following—
3
In a case where the local authority states in the application that the rent includes charges for general counselling or any other support services which are eligible for housing benefit solely by virtue of paragraph 1(f)(iii) of Schedule 1 to the 1987 Regulations (landlord’s support services: supported accommodation) or solely by virtue of that provision and paragraph 1(f)(ii) of that Schedule, the rent officer shall assume when making a determination on a redetermination that—
a
the services were not to be provided or made available; and
b
the rent payable under the tenancy at the relevant time is such amount as is specified in the application as the rent which would have been payable under the tenancy at that time if those items were not to be provided or made available.
4
In a case where the local authority states in the application that the rent includes charges for general counselling or any other support services and the charges—
a
are eligible for housing benefit by virtue of paragraph 1(f)(iii) of Schedule 1 to the 1987 Regulations (landlord’s support services: supported accommodation) or that provision and paragraph 1(f)(ii) of that Schedule; and
b
are also eligible for housing benefit by virtue of paragraph 1(f)(i) of that Schedule (support services: other exceptions);
the rent officer shall include in the notice to the local authority, required under article 3(1)(c), a statement of the amount of the rent payable for the tenancy (which has the same meaning as in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 1 to this Order) which relates to those charges.
Revocations9
The Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1995 M5, the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Amendment) Order 1995 M6, the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Amendment No. 2) Order 1995 M7, the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Amendment) Order 1996 M8 and the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) (Amendment) Order 1997 M9 are hereby revoked.
I1 Application10
1
The amendment made by article 8 does not have effect in a case where an application for a determination is made before the date that article comes into force.
2
The remaining articles of the Order (other than paragraph (1)) do not have effect in a case where an application is made for a determination before the date those articles come into force.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State