HC Deb 14 April 1986 vol 95 cc295-6W
Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many tenants in receipt of housing benefit have had their rents registered with the rent officer.

Mr. Major

No information is available on the number of tenants in receipt of housing benefit whose rents are registered.

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he has taken to ensure that rents levied from tenants in receipt of housing benefit have been registered with the rent officer.

Mr. Major

Where there is a regulated tenancy, the local authority may apply to the rent officer for the registration of a fair rent. This is a matter for the authority concerned but it is not expected to apply for a rent to be registered simply because a claim for housing benefit has been made.

Authorities also have the power under the housing benefit scheme to restrict the amount of rent eligible for benefit in certain circumstances if the local authority consider the rent is unreasonably high or the accommodation is unreasonably expensive.