Citation, Commencement and Extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Amendment and Modification) Order 2021 and comes into force on 31st January 2022.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997

2.—(1) The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997( 2) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 4B(3A) (date on which a broad rental market area determination takes effect)( 3), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) for all other purposes on the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made. ”.

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997

3.—(1) The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997( 4) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 4B(3A) (date on which a broad rental market area determination takes effect)( 5), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) for all other purposes on the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made. ”.

Amendments to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013

4.—(1) The Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013( 6) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 3(6) (date on which a broad rental market area determination takes effect)( 7), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) for all other purposes on the next relevant Monday following the day on which the determination is made. ”.

Modifications to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997

5.  For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2022, Schedule 3B (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997( 8) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—

“(2)  For all broad rental market areas the local housing allowance for any category of dwelling is the allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st March 2020. ”.

Modifications to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997

6.  For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2022, Schedule 3B (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations) to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997( 9) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—

“(2)  For all broad rental market areas the local housing allowance for any category of dwelling is the allowance determined for that category of dwelling on 31st March 2020. ”.

Modifications to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013

7.  For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2022, Schedule 1 (local housing allowance determinations) to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013( 10) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—

“(2)  For all broad rental market areas the local housing allowance for any category of accommodation is the allowance determined for that category of accommodation on 31st March 2020. ”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 ( S.I. 1997/1984), the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 ( S.I. 1997/1995) (S. 144) and the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 ( S.I. 2013/382) to make changes to when Broad Rental Market Area Determinations take effect. It also modifies those Orders to make provision for the determination of local housing allowances in 2022.

Articles 2 and 3 amend S.I. 1997/1984and 1997/1995to provide that a change to a Broad Rental Market Area Determination will take effect from the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made.

Article 4 amends S.I. 2013/382to provide that a change to a Broad Rental Market Area Determination will take effect from the first Monday of the first tax year that follows the day on which the determination is made.

Articles 5, 6 and 7 modify the above Rent Officers Orders to provide that, for all broad rental market areas, the local housing allowance for any category of dwelling or accommodation is the allowance determined for that category of dwelling or accommodation on 31st March 2020. The modification will apply for the purposes of determining local housing allowances in 2022.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.