Housing Benefit
Posted on 14th June at 04:28 PM
The costs of adaptation/ conversion, upgrading or replacing the infrastructure of a communal aerial system are deemed Housing Benefit eligible where levied as a service charge (Schedule 1, paragraph 1(a) (iii)).
Landlords should ensure that the money received from tenants who receive Housing Benefit, should contribute this to the upgrade of their communal aerial system and be shown separately in the service charge schedule.
The Housing Benefit regulation does not stipulate which kind of system to choose. The type of system chosen should be done through consultation with the residents. Communal aerial systems that support free-to-view channels and satellite services are eligible for benefit.
Paragraph 1(a)(iii) of schedule 2 in the Housing Benefit Regulations amended the Regulations in April 2007 to ensure that Housing Benefit service charges relating to the relay of Freeview channels via communal aerial systems continue to be eligible for Housing Benefit. See JSA Regs, Sch 2, para 16(1)(b); IS (Gen) Regs, Sch 3, para 17(1)(b); SPC Regs, Sch II, para 13(1)(b.
However there is no benefit available to assist with any rental or purchase of television equipment, nor for subscription charges or license fee payments.
The intention is that Housing Benefits contribute to a service charge or an increase in service charges and therefore covers the maintenance of the communal aerial system.
Anything beyond the plug on the wall inside the home (e.g. equipment, pay TV subscriptions etc.) should be the responsibility of the individual.
It would not be appropriate for Housing Benefits to cover the costs of additional pay to view channels i.e. over and above the free-to-view channels that are accessible via digital TV through an aerial (Freeview) or satellite. Additional subscriptions to pay for TV services should be treated in the same way as licence and rental fees. This includes all cable and broadband services.
If a local authority considers a charge to be greater than comparable service charges elsewhere, they are able make a deduction from the charge in the normal way.
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