The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

Ineligible service charges

1.  The following service charges shall not be eligible to be met by housing benefit—

(a)charges in respect of day-to-day living expenses including, in particular, all provision of—

(i)subject to paragraph 2 meals (including the preparation of meals or provision of unprepared food);

(ii)laundry (other than the provision of premises or equipment to enable a person to do his own laundry);

(iii)leisure items such as either sports facilities (except a children’s play area), or television rental and licence fees (except radio relay charges, charges made in respect of the conveyance and the installation and maintenance of equipment for such conveyance of a television broadcasting service which is not a domestic satellite service, or charges made in respect of the conveyance and the installation and maintenance of equipment for such conveyance of a television programme service where in respect of the claimant’s dwelling the installation of such equipment is the only practicable means of conveying satisfactorily a television broadcasting service which is not a domestic satellite service, as these services are defined in the Broadcasting Act 1990(1));

(iv)cleaning of rooms and windows except cleaning of—

(aa)communal areas; or

(bb)the exterior of any windows where neither the claimant nor any member of his household is able to clean them himself,

where a payment is not made in respect of such cleaning by a local authority (including, in relation to England, a county council) or the National Assembly for Wales to the claimant or his partner, or to another person on their behalf; and

(v)transport;

(b)charges in respect of—

(i)the acquisition of furniture or household equipment; and

(ii)the use of such furniture or equipment where that furniture or household equipment will become the property of the claimant by virtue of an agreement with the landlord;

(c)charges in respect of the provision of an emergency alarm system;

(d)charges in respect of medical expenses (including the cost of treatment or counselling related to mental disorder, mental handicap, physical disablement or past or present alcohol or drug dependence);

(e)charges in respect of the provision of nursing care or personal care (including assistance at meal-times or with personal appearance or hygiene);

(f)charges in respect of general counselling or of any other support services, whoever provides those services;

(g)charges in respect of any services not specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) which are not connected with the provision of adequate accommodation.