Official Gazette Notification Text
Official TranscriptStatus: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 5 HOUSING The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2026 Made - - - - 6th January 2026 Laid before Parliament 8th January 2026 Coming into force - - 30th January 2026 The Secretary...
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2026 No. 5 HOUSING The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2026 Made - - - - 6th January 2026 Laid before Parliament 8th January 2026 Coming into force - - 30th January 2026 The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 122(1) and
(6)(b) of the Housing Act 1996(1).
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2026 and comes into force on 30th January 2026.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland.
Modification to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997
2. For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2026, Schedule 3B to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)(2) 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 January 2024.”.
Modification to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997
3. For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2026, Schedule 3B to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)(3) is to be read as if for paragraph 2(2) there were substituted—
(1) 1996 c. 52; section 122(1) was amended by paragraph 36 of Schedule 2 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5).
(2) S.I. 1997/1984; Schedule 3B was inserted by S.I. 2007/2871; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/2978, 2020/27, 371, 2024/11.
(3) S.I. 1997/1995 (S. 144); Schedule 3B was inserted by S.I. 2007/2871; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/2978, 2020/27, 371, 2024/11.Document Generated: 2026-01-30
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. “(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 January 2024.”.
Modification to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013
4. For the purposes of determining the local housing allowances in 2026, Schedule 1 to the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 (local housing allowance determinations)(4) 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 January
2024.”.
Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Stephen Timms Minister of State 6th January 2026 Department for Work and Pensions
(4) S.I. 2013/382; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/2978, 2020/27, 371, 2024/11.
2Document Generated: 2026-01-30
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order) This Order modifies 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) and the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/382) to make provision for the determination of local housing allowances in 2026.
Articles 2 and 3 provide that, 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 January 2024.
Article 4 provides that, 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 January
2024.
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.
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