
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and shall come into operation on 2nd April 2012.
(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954  shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
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(1) The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008  are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) before the definition of  “broad rental market area” insert—““applicable consumer prices index” in relation to any year means the consumer prices index of annual inflation as at September of that year published by the Office of National Statistics  ;”.
(3) In regulation 3 (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)—
(a) in paragraph (1) for  “On 20th March 2008 and so often thereafter as the Executive considers appropriate, the Executive shall” substitute “
                    At such times as the Executive considers appropriate, the Executive shall, if the Department agrees
                  ”;
(b) for paragraph (2) substitute—“
(2) In 2012, and in each subsequent year, no more than 20 working days after the applicable consumer prices index is published, the Executive shall for each broad rental market area determine, in accordance with the Schedule, a local housing allowance for each of the categories of dwelling set out in paragraph 1 of the Schedule.”; and
(c) for paragraph (3) substitute—“
(3) Any broad rental market area determination made in accordance with paragraph (1) shall take effect—
(a) on the day the determination is made for the purpose of enabling the Executive to determine a local housing allowance for that area; and
(b) for all other purposes on the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made.
(3A) Any local housing allowance determination made in accordance with paragraph (2) shall take effect on the next 1st April following the day on which the determination is made.”.
(4) In the Schedule (broad rental market area determinations and local housing allowance determinations)—
(a) in paragraph 1(1)  (categories of dwelling) for  “regulation 3(2)(a)” substitute “
                    regulation 3(2)
                  ”; and
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 30th March 2012
Anne McCleary

A senior officer of the
Department for Social Development
