Section 11 — Welfare Reform Act 2012: Housing costs

Housing costs 11 1 The calculation of an award of universal credit is to include an amount in respect of any liability of a claimant to make payments in respect of the accommodation they occupy as their home.

2 For the purposes of subsection (1)—

a the accommodation must be in Great Britain;

b the accommodation must be residential accommodation;

c it is immaterial whether the accommodation consists of the whole or part of a building and whether or not it comprises separate and self-contained premises.

3 Regulations may make provision as to—

a what is meant by payments in respect of accommodation for the purposes of this section ...;

b circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as liable or not liable to make such payments;

c circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as occupying or not occupying accommodation as their home (and, in particular, for temporary absences to be disregarded);

d circumstances in which land used for the purposes of any accommodation is to be treated as included in the accommodation.

4 Regulations are to provide for the determination or calculation of any amount to be included under this section.

5 Regulations may—

a provide for exceptions to subsection (1);

b provide for inclusion of an amount under this section in the calculation of an award of universal credit—

i to end at a prescribed time, or ii not to start until a prescribed time.