Financial Support for Members Handbook

Below is an extract from the Financial Support for Members Handbook:

Rental of a Constituency Office

(1)  OCE may pay for the rental of a property for use as a constituency office. It must not be used to purchase property.

(2)  A Member is not entitled to recover expenditure in respect of the rental of any property if the rental or lease agreement is with:

(a)        a family member, or

(b)      a  person  with  whom  the  Member  is  “connected”  withinthe  meaning  of section 252 (2) (b) (c) (d) and (e) and section 254 of the Companies Act 2006; or

(c)      any person  from  whom  the  Member  or  his/her  family Member derives a financial benefit

This means that Members cannot own a property and rent it to themselves for the purpose of Office Cost Expenditure. 

Property owned by Members should be recorded in the register of Members’ interests.

Members are required to register any land or property from which a substantial income is derived.  A “substantial income” is defined as an income from all property holdings equivalent to, or greater than, 10% of the Member’s current Assembly salary (currently £4,800).  A Member does not have to register his/her home if it is used solely for residential purposes.  However, it will have to be registered if it provides rental income that contributes to the Member’s income from his/her total property portfolio being substantial.  All other properties that contribute to this total income will also have to be registered.

You can see which Members have registered such land and property by referring to category 7 entries on the Register of Members' Interests:  http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Your-MLAs/Register-of-Interests/