Housing benefit for service charges in sheltered housing schemes: an exercise in semantics or an application of reality?

This paper aims to give guidance on the level of service charges that can be claimed by residents in sheltered housing as part of their housing benefit claims.

The paper reviews the relevant legislation and recent opinions and rulings of both the Upper Tribunal and the Supreme Court.

A broad based non arithmetical approach must be taken, particularly as many key words are not statutorily defined.

Claimants, advocates and decision makers should use the guidance outlined when considering housing benefit claims by sheltered housing residents.