The concept of Specified Accommodation came into being in 2014. It determines those categories of supported accommodation, and other types of accommodation such as hostels and refuges, in which certain welfare reform provisions do not apply:

Being confident that welfare reform provisions as significant as those above do not apply in your accommodation is obviously a very important matter for tenants and landlords.

Scotland’s Housing Network published guidance on the Specified Accommodation regulations in January 2015, since when there have been multiple significant reforms, including the ongoing rollout of Universal Credit, the restrictions to benefit caps, and the announcement that from 2019, Local Housing Allowance limits will apply to social rents.

To reflect the changing environment, Scotland’s Housing Network, working with the Housing Support Enabling Unit, has updated its guidance.

The Specified Accommodation regulations will continue to apply until at least April 2019. As greater numbers of housing customers become eligible for Universal Credit, knowing that in certain categories of Specified Accommodation, Housing Benefit should continue to be paid direct to the landlord, even for tenants who are on Universal Credit, becomes increasingly significant.

The updated guidance can be accessed at the Welfare Reform pages of Scotland’s Housing Network’s website here.