Section 23 of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 (“the 2016 Act”) introduces, for a period of 4 years, a 1% annual reduction to the rent payable by social tenants to registered providers of social housing in England. Schedule 2 to the 2016 Act introduces, for a period of 4 years, requirements about the maximum levels of rent for social tenancies beginning after the beginning of 8 July 2015. These Regulations set out exceptions to and circumstances in which exemptions may be given from the rent regime otherwise applicable, make alternative provision for certain excepted categories, and define certain terms used in the 2016 Act.