The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

PART 14 E+W+S Information

SECTION 1 E+W+S Claims and information

Interpretation E+W+S

108.  In this Section—

[F1 “county council” means a county council in England, but only if the council has made an arrangement in accordance with regulation 83(4)(g) or 109(3);]

“local authority” means an authority administering housing benefit;

“relevant authority” means—

(a)

the Secretary of State; or

(b)

a person providing services to the Secretary of State;[F2 or

(c)

a county council;]

“relevant information” means information or evidence relating to the administration of claims to or awards of housing benefit.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 108 inserted (31.10.2007) by The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2911), regs. 1(1), 7(3)(a)

F2 Words in reg. 108 added (31.10.2007) by The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2911), regs. 1(1), 7(3)(b)

Collection of information E+W+S

[F3 109.— (1) The Secretary of State, or a person providing services to him, may receive or obtain relevant information from—

(a) persons making, or who have made, claims for housing benefit; or

(b) other persons in connection with such claims.

(2) In paragraph (1) references to persons who have made claims for housing benefit include persons to whom awards of benefit have been made on those claims.

(3) Where a county council has made an arrangement with a local authority, or a person authorised to exercise any function of a local authority relating to housing benefit or council tax benefit, to receive and obtain information or evidence relating to claims for housing benefit, the council may receive or obtain the information or evidence from—

(a) persons making claims for housing benefit; or

(b) other persons in connection with such claims.

(4) A county council may receive information or evidence relating to an award of housing benefit which is supplied by—

(a) the person to whom the award has been made; or

(b) other persons in connection with the award.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Reg. 109 substituted (31.10.2007) by The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2911), regs. 1(1), 7(4)

[F4 Verifying information E+W+S

109A.   A relevant authority may verify relevant information supplied to, or obtained by, the authority in accordance with regulation 109.]

Textual Amendments

F4 Reg. 109A inserted (31.10.2007) by The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2911), regs. 1(1), 7(5)

Recording and holding information E+W+S

[F5 110.   A relevant authority which obtains relevant information or to whom such information is supplied—

(a) shall make a record of such information; and

(b) may hold that information, whether as supplied or obtained or recorded, for the purpose of forwarding it to the person or authority for the time being administering housing benefit.]

Textual Amendments

F5 Reg. 110 substituted (31.10.2007) by The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2911), regs. 1(1), 7(6)

Forwarding of information E+W+S

111.  A relevant authority which holds relevant information—

(a) shall forward it to the person or authority for the time being administering claims to or awards of housing benefit to which the relevant information relates, being—

(i) a local authority;

(ii) a person providing services to a local authority; or

(iii) a person authorised to exercise any function of a local authority relating to housing benefit; and

[F6 (b) may, if the relevant authority is the Secretary of State or a person providing services to the Secretary of State, continue to hold a record of such information, whether as supplied or obtained or recorded, for such period as he considers appropriate.]

Textual Amendments

F6 Reg. 111(b) substituted (31.10.2007) by The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2911), regs. 1(1), 7(7)

Request for information E+W+S

112.  A relevant authority which holds information or evidence relating to social security matters shall forward such information or evidence as may be requested to the person or authority making that request, provided that—

(a) the request is made by—

(i) a local authority;

(ii) a person providing services to a local authority; or

(iii) a person authorised to exercise any function of a local authority relating to housing benefit; and

(b) the information or evidence requested includes relevant information;

(c) the relevant authority is able to provide the information or evidence requested in the form in which it was originally supplied or obtained; and

(d) provision of the information or evidence requested is considered necessary by the relevant authority to the proper performance by a local authority of its functions relating to housing benefit.

SECTION 2 E+W+S Information from landlords and agents and between authorities etc.

Interpretation E+W+S

113.  In this Section—

“the notice” means the notice prescribed in regulation 118(1)(b) (circumstances for requiring information);

“relevant information” means such information as is prescribed in regulation 119 (relevant information);

“the requirer” means a person within regulation 117 (requiring information from landlords and agents), who requires information pursuant to that regulation;

“the supplier” means an appropriate person who is required, pursuant to regulations 117 and 118, to supply relevant information and any person who is not so required is not, for the purpose of supplying information pursuant to section 126A of the Administration Act M1 and these Regulations, an appropriate person.

Marginal Citations

M1 Inserted by Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47), section 11.

Evidence and information required by rent officers E+W+S

F7 114.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F7 Reg. 114 omitted (7.4.2008) by virtue of The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance and Information Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2868), regs. 1(2), 3(3)

[F8 Information to be provided to rent officers E+W+S

114A.— (1) This paragraph applies to every claim for or award of housing benefit in the form of a rent allowance where the eligible rent has been, or is to be determined, in accordance with—

(a) regulation 12(3)(a) (rent) or 12C (eligible rent and maximum rent), as the case may require;

(b) [F9 regulation 12D] (eligible rent and the maximum rent (LHA)) or any of regulations 12E to 12K (transitional protection for pathfinder cases), as the case may require; or

(c) regulations 12 (rent) and 13 (maximum rent) as set out in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Consequential Provisions Regulations.

(2) No earlier than the first, and no later than the fifth, working day of every month a relevant authority shall provide the following information to the rent officer in relation to every claim for or award of housing benefit to which paragraph (1) applied in the preceding month—

(a) the address, including any room or unit number, house or flat number or name, and the postcode of the dwelling to which the claim or award relates;

(b) where the claim or award relates to mooring charges for a houseboat, or payments in respect of the site on which a caravan or mobile home stands, the mooring or plot number and the address of the mooring or site, including the postcode;

(c) the date on which the tenancy began;

(d) the amount of rent and the rental period, whether calendar monthly, four weekly, weekly or some other period;

(e) where the claimant has the use of two or more bedrooms, the number of bedrooms and rooms suitable for living in that there are in the dwelling, and in this sub-paragraph “bedroom” does not include a bedroom which the claimant shares with any person other than a member of his household, a non-dependant of his, or a person who pays rent to him or his partner;

(f) whether the tenant (together with his partner where he has one) has exclusive use of only one bedroom, and if so, whether they have exclusive use of a kitchen, bathroom, toilet and a room suitable for living in;

(g) whether the tenant has exclusive use of only one bedroom, and if so, which, if any, of the following the tenancy provides for him to share—

(i) a kitchen;

(ii) a bathroom;

(iii) a toilet; or

(iv) a room suitable for living in;

(h) the date on which entitlement to housing benefit began; and

(i) where applicable, the date on which entitlement to housing benefit ended.

(3) Where the relevant authority is required to apply to the rent officer for a board and attendance determination by virtue of regulation 13D(10) (determination of a maximum rent (LHA)), it shall provide the following information in the application to the Rent Officer—

(a) the address, including any room or unit number, house or flat number or name and the postcode of the dwelling to which the claim or award relates;

(b) the date on which the tenancy began;

(c) the length of the tenancy;

(d) the total amount of those payments referred to in regulation 12(1) (rent) which the claimant is liable to make in respect of the dwelling which he occupies as his home;

(e) whether those payments include any charges for water, sewerage or allied environmental services or charges in respect of meals or fuel which are ineligible for housing benefit; and

(f) where those payments include any charges that are ineligible for housing benefit by reason of paragraph 1(a)(iv) and (c) to (f) of Schedule 1 (ineligible service charges), that such charges are included, and the value of those charges as determined by that authority pursuant to regulation 12B(2) and that Schedule.

(4) Where the relevant authority has identified charges to which paragraph (3)(f) applies, it shall—

(a) deduct those charges from the total amount of those payments which, in accordance with paragraph (3)(d), it has stated that the claimant is liable to make in respect of the dwelling which he occupies as his home; and

(b) notify that total so reduced to the rent officer in its application.

(5) Where a relevant authority has received notification from the rent officer that a substantial part of the rent is attributable to board and attendance, it shall provide the information referred to in paragraphs (7) and (8), except for such information as it has already provided in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).

(6) Where the relevant authority is required to apply to the rent officer for a determination by virtue of regulation 14(1) (requirement to refer to rent officers), it shall provide the information referred to in paragraphs (7) to (9) in the application to the rent officer.

(7) In relation to the dwelling to which the claim or award relates, the relevant authority shall provide the following information—

(a) the address, including any room or unit number, house or flat number or name and the postcode of the dwelling;

(b) where the claim or award relates to mooring charges for a houseboat, or payments in respect of the site on which a caravan or mobile home stands, the mooring or plot number and the address of the mooring or site, including the postcode;

(c) whether the dwelling is—

(i) a detached house;

(ii) a semi-detached house;

(iii) a terraced house;

(iv) a maisonette;

(v) a detached bungalow;

(vi) a semi-detached bungalow;

(vii) a flat in a house;

(viii) a flat in a block;

(ix) a flat over a shop;

(x) a bedsit or rooms or a studio flat;

(xi) a hostel;

(xii) a caravan, mobile home or houseboat;

(xiii) board and lodgings;

(xiv) a hotel;

(xv) a care home;

(xvi) an independent hospital; or

(xvii) some other description of dwelling, and if so what;

(d) whether the dwelling has central heating, a garden, a garage or a parking space;

(e) how many rooms suitable for living in there are—

(i) in the dwelling;

(ii) in the dwelling which the claimant shares with any person other than a member of his household, a non-dependant of his, or a person who pays rent to him or his partner;

(f) how many bedsitting rooms there are in the categories (e)(i) and (ii);

(g) how many bedrooms there are in the categories (e)(i) and (ii);

(h) how many bathrooms or toilets there are in the categories (e)(i) and (ii); and

(i) such other information as the rent officer may reasonably require to make a determination.

(8) In relation to the tenancy to which the claim or award relates, the relevant authority shall provide the following information—

(a) the information referred to in paragraphs (3)(d) to (f) and (4);

(b) if the tenancy is furnished, and if so, to what extent;

(c) the rental period, whether calendar monthly, four weekly, weekly or some other period;

(d) the length of the tenancy;

(e) when the tenancy began and, if appropriate, when it ended;

(h) the landlord’s or letting agent’s name;

(i) the landlord’s or letting agent’s business address;

(j) whether the landlord is a housing association[F10 , private registered provider of social housing] or registered social landlord; and

(k) such other information as the rent officer may reasonably require to make a determination.

(9) In relation to the claimant and the other occupiers of the dwelling to which the claim or award relates, the relevant authority shall provide the following information—

(a) such information regarding the relationship of the claimant to the occupiers and the occupiers to each other, as is necessary for the rent officer to make the determination;

(b) the age and sex of each occupier under 18;

(c) whether the claimant is or may be a young individual; and

(d) any other information that is relevant to the rent officer in making the determination, including visits to the dwelling.

(10) Where a rent officer serves a notice under article 5 (insufficient information) of the Rent Officers Order the relevant authority shall supply the further information required under this regulation, or confirm whether information already supplied is correct and, if it is not, supply the correct information.

(11) Where the relevant authority refers a case to the rent officer in accordance with regulation 14 as in force before the coming into force of regulation 8 of the Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance and Information Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2007, it shall notify the rent officer that the referral is made in accordance with regulation 14 as in force before the coming into force of regulation 8 of those Regulations.

(12) In this regulation—

“tenancy” includes—

(a)

in Scotland, any other right of occupancy; and

(b)

in any other case, a licence to occupy premises,

and reference to a tenant, landlord or any other expression appropriate to a tenancy shall be construed accordingly;

“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in the jurisdiction in which the area of the relevant authority is situated.]

Textual Amendments

F8 Reg. 114A inserted (7.4.2008) by The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance and Information Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2868), regs. 1(2), 3(2)

F9 Words in reg. 114A(1)(b) substituted by SI 2007/2868 reg. 3(2) (as amended) (7.4.2008) by The Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance, Information Sharing and Miscellaneous) Amendment Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/586), regs. 1, 4(2)(b)

F10 Words in reg. 114A(8)(j) inserted (1.4.2010) by The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/671), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 53 (with Sch. 2); S.I. 2010/862, art. 2

Information to be supplied by an authority to another authority E+W+S

[F11 115.— (1) This regulation applies for the purposes of section 128A of the Administration Act (duty of an authority to disclose information to another authority).

(2) Information is to be disclosed by one authority to another where—

(a) there is a mover who is or was in receipt of housing benefit from Authority “A”;

(b) either the mover’s new dwelling is within the area of another Authority “B” or the mover is liable or treated as liable to make payments in respect of the new dwelling to housing authority B; and

(c) the mover is entitled to an extended payment in accordance with regulation 72.

(3) Authority A shall disclose to Authority B—

(a) the amount of the extended payment calculated in accordance with regulation 72C(2) (amount of extended payment – movers);

(b) the date that entitlement to the extended payment will commence or has commenced;

(c) the date that entitlement to the extended payment ceased or will cease;

(d) the date of the move from Authority A to Authority B;

(e) where the extended payment will be paid by Authority A to Authority B in accordance with regulation 72C(3)(a) (payment of extended payment to the second authority)—

(i) the amount that Authority A will pay to Authority B in accordance with that paragraph; and

(ii) any other information required by Authority B to enable Authority A to make the payment in accordance with that paragraph; and

(f) if any deduction was being made in respect of a recoverable overpayment.

(4) Authority B shall disclose to Authority A—

(a) if a mover’s liability to make payments for the new dwelling is to Authority B; and

(b) where the extended payment will be paid by Authority A to Authority B in accordance with regulation 72C(3)(a)—

(i) any information required by Authority A to enable Authority A to make the payment in accordance with that paragraph; and

(ii) the date on which Authority B receives any such payment.]

Textual Amendments

F11 Reg. 115 substituted (6.10.2008) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Extended Payments) Amendment Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/959), regs. 1(1), 2(3)

[F12 Supply of information – extended payments (qualifying contributory benefits) E+W+S

116.— (1) This regulation applies for the purposes of section 122E(3) of the Administration Act (duty of an authority to supply information to another authority).

(2) Information is to be disclosed by one authority to another where—

(a) there is a mover who is or was in receipt of housing benefit from Authority “A”;

(b) either the mover’s new dwelling is within the area of another Authority “B” or the mover is liable or treated as liable to make payments in respect of the new dwelling to housing authority B; and

(c) the mover is entitled to an extended payment (qualifying contributory benefits) in accordance with regulation 73.

(3) Authority A shall disclose to Authority B—

(a) the amount of the extended payment (qualifying contributory benefits) calculated in accordance with regulation 73C(2) (amount of extended payment – movers);

(b) the date that entitlement to the extended payment will commence or has commenced;

(c) the date that entitlement to the extended payment ceased or will cease;

(d) the date of the move from Authority A to Authority B;

(e) where the extended payment will be paid by Authority A to Authority B in accordance with regulation 73C(3)(a) (payment of the extended payment to the second authority)—

(i) the amount that Authority A will pay to Authority B in accordance with that paragraph; and

(ii) any other information required by Authority B to enable Authority A to make the payment in accordance with that paragraph; and

(f) if any deduction was being made in respect of a recoverable overpayment.

(4) Authority B shall disclose to Authority A—

(a) if a mover’s liability to make payments for the new dwelling is to Authority B; and

(b) where the extended payment will be paid by Authority A to Authority B in accordance with regulation 73C(3)(a)—

(i) any information required by Authority A to enable Authority A to make the payment in accordance with that paragraph; and

(ii) the date on which Authority B receives any such payment.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Reg. 116 substituted (6.10.2008) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Extended Payments) Amendment Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/959), regs. 1(1), 3(3)

Requiring information from landlords and agents E+W+S

117.  Pursuant to section 126A of the Administration Act M2 (information from landlords and agents), where a claim is made to an authority, on which a rent allowance may be awarded, then, in the circumstances prescribed in regulation 118 (circumstances for requiring information), that authority, or any person authorised to exercise any functions of the authority relating to housing benefit, may require an appropriate person to supply to that authority or person relevant information, in the manner prescribed in regulation 120 (manner of supply of information).

Marginal Citations

M2 Section 126A was inserted by section 11 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47).

Circumstances for requiring information E+W+S

118.—(1) A person is required to supply information in the following circumstances—

(a) he is an appropriate person in relation to any dwelling in respect of which—

(i) housing benefit is being paid to an appropriate person pursuant to regulation 95 or 96 (circumstances in which payment is to be or may be made to a landlord); or

(ii) a request has been made by an appropriate person or by the claimant for housing benefit to be so paid; and

(b) the requirer serves upon that appropriate person, whether by post or otherwise, a written notice stating that the requirer—

(i) suspects that there is or may be an impropriety in relation to a claim in respect of any dwelling wherever situate in relation to which he is an appropriate person; or

(ii) is already investigating an allegation of impropriety in relation to that person.

(2) In formation required to be supplied under paragraph (1) shall be supplied to the requirer at the address specified in the notice.

Relevant information E+W+S

119.—(1) The information the supplier is to supply to the requirer is that prescribed in paragraphs (2) and (3) (referred to in this Part as “ the relevant information”).

(2) For a supplier who falls within paragraph (4) or section 126A(2)(b) of the Administration Act (“the landlord”), the information is—

(a) where the landlord is a natural person—

(i) his appropriate details;

(ii) the relevant particulars of any residential property in which he has an interest; and

(iii) the appropriate details of any body corporate, in which he is a major shareholder or of which he is a director and which has an interest in residential property;

(b) where the landlord is a trustee, except a trustee of a charity, in addition to any information that he is required to supply in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) or (c), as the case may be, the relevant particulars of any residential property held by the trust of which he is a trustee and the name and address of any beneficiary under the trust or the objects of that trust, as the case may be;

(c) where the landlord is a body corporate or otherwise not a natural person, other than a charity—

(i) its appropriate details;

(ii) the relevant particulars of any residential property in which it has an interest;

(iii) the names and addresses of any directors of it;

(iv) the appropriate details of any person—

(aa) who owns 20 per cent. or more of it; or

(bb) of whom it owns 20 per cent. or more; and

(v) the names and addresses of its major shareholders;

(d) where the landlord is a charity or is a recognised body, the appropriate details relating to the landlord and particulars of the landlord's registration as a charity.

(3) For a supplier who falls within section 126A(2)(c) of the Administration Act or paragraph (5)(“the agent”), the information is—

(a) the name and address of any person (“his principal”)—

(i) to whom the agent has agreed to make payments in consequence of being entitled to receive relevant payments: or

(ii) for whom the agent is acting on behalf of or in connection with any aspect of the management of a dwelling,

as the case may be;

(b) the relevant particulars of any residential property in respect of which the agent—

(i) has agreed to make payments in consequence of being entitled to receive relevant payments; or

(ii) is acting on behalf of his principal in connection with any aspect of its management;

(c) where the agent is a natural person—

(i) the relevant particulars of any residential property in which he has an interest;

(ii) the appropriate details of any body corporate or any person not a natural person, in which he is a major shareholder or of which he is a director and which has any interest in residential property; or

(d) where the agent is a body corporate or other than a natural person—

(i) the relevant particulars of any residential property in which it has an interest;

(ii) the names and addresses of any directors of or major shareholders in the agent; and

(iii) the appropriate details of any person—

(aa) who owns 20 per cent. or more of the agent; or

(bb) of whom the agent owns 20 per cent. or more.

(4) A supplier falls within this paragraph (landlord receiving rent), if he falls within section 126A(2)(a) of the Administration Act, but does not fall within paragraph (5).

(5) A supplier falls within this paragraph (agent receiving the rent), if he falls within subsection (2)(a) of section 126A of the Administration Act and has agreed to make payments, in consequence of being entitled to receive relevant payments, to a person falling within subsection (2)(b) of that section.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation—

“appropriate details” means the name of the person and (in the case of a company) its registered office and, in any case, the full postal address, including post code, of the principal place of business of that person and the telephone and facsimile number (if any) of that place;

“charity” means a charity which is registered under section 3 of the Charities Act 1993 M3 and is not an exempt charity within the meaning of that Act;

“major shareholder” means, where a body corporate is a company limited by shares, any person holding one tenth or more of the issued shares in that company and, in any other case, all the owners of that body;

“recognised body” has the same meaning as in section 1(7) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 M4 ;

“relevant particulars” means the full postal address, including post code, and number of current lettings of or within that residential property and, if that property includes two or more dwellings, that address and the number of such lettings for each such dwelling;

“residential property” includes any premises, situate within the United Kingdom—

(a)

used or which has, within the last six months, been used; or

(b)

which may be used or is adapted for use,

as residential accommodation,

and other expressions used in this regulation and also in the Companies Act 1985 M5 shall have the same meaning in this regulation as they have in that Act.

Marginal Citations

M3 1993 c. 10.

M4 1990 c. 40.

M5 1985 c. 6.

Manner of supply of information E+W+S

120.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the relevant information shall be supplied—

(a) in typewritten or printed form; or

(b) with the written agreement of the requirer, in electronic or handwritten form,

within a period of 4 weeks commencing on the date on which the notice was sent or given.

(2) Where—

(a) within a period of 4 weeks commencing on the date on which the notice was sent or given, the supplier requests that the time for the supply of the relevant information be extended; and

(b) the requirer provides written agreement to that request,

the time for the supply of the relevant information shall be extended to a period of 8 weeks commencing on the date on which the notice was sent or given.

Criminal offence E+W+S

[F13 121.   Any supplier who fails to supply relevant information to the requirer as, when and how required under regulations 117 to 120 shall be guilty of an offence under section 113 of the Administration Act.]

Textual Amendments

F13 Reg. 121 substituted (1.10.2008) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2299), regs. 1, 2(9)

[F14 Supply of benefit administration information between authorities E+W+S

121A.— (1) For the purpose of section 122E(3) of the Administration Act (supply of information between authorities administering benefit) the circumstances in which information is to be supplied and the information to be supplied are set out in paragraph (2).

(2) Where the functions of an authority (“Authority A”) relating to housing benefit are being exercised, wholly or in part, by another authority (“Authority B”)—

(a) Authority A must supply to Authority B any benefit administration information it holds which is relevant to, and necessary for, Authority B to exercise those functions; and

(b) Authority B must supply to Authority A any benefit administration information it holds which is relevant to, and necessary for, Authority A to exercise those functions.

(3) The circumstances in which paragraph (2) applies include cases where the authorities have agreed to discharge functions jointly.

(4) In paragraph (2) “Authority A” and “Authority B” include any person authorised to exercise functions relating to housing benefit on behalf of the authority in question.

(5) This regulation shall not apply if the person or authority to whom the information is to be supplied agrees that the information need not be supplied.]

Textual Amendments

F14 Reg. 121A and words inserted (1.10.2008) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2299), regs. 1, 2(10)