Commentary on provisions of Act Section 29: Universal credit: cost of claimants who rent accommodation
This section enables Scottish Ministers to exercise certain regulation-making powers for Scotland in respect of the housing costs within Universal Credit for claimants who rent their home.
	The Scottish Ministers be able to make regulations to amend the way in which the housing costs for Universal Credit are calculated for claimants who rent accommodation. They will also be able to make regulations which enable the housing costs to be paid to someone on behalf of a claimant such as the claimant’s landlord. This power can be exercised concurrently with the Secretary of State, which means that both the UK Government and Scottish Government have the same power to make regulations for Scotland on the matters covered by this section which they can exercise independently.
	The Scottish Ministers, before making regulations with regard to the matters covered by this section, must consult with the Secretary of State about the practicality of implementing them. If, following this consultation, the Scottish Ministers proceed to make regulations and the Secretary of State considers that it is not practicable to implement the changes in the proposed timescale, he or she may make regulations to postpone the time Scottish Minister’s regulations will start to have effect.
	Regulations made by Scottish Ministers under this section will be subject to the negative procedure in the Scottish Parliament; replicating the approach taken in the UK Parliament.
	The Secretary of State cannot make any regulations under the powers specified in this section without first consulting with the Scottish Ministers.