Procedure for third party applications
72.Section 26 amends schedule 2 to the 2006 Act so that the procedures to be adopted by a private rented housing committee in determining an application to the private rented housing panel in relation to a landlord’s failure to comply with the repairing standard (in terms of section 14(1)(b) of the 2006 Act), take account of applications made by a third party. In the case of a third party application, the third party must be notified and given the opportunity to make written or oral representations. Any changes made at the request of a third party applicant to the date by which evidence must be provided must be notified to the third party, the tenant and landlords.
73.The procedures followed by a committee in making other inquiries must include consideration of any written or oral representations, and any report about the state of the property concerned, by third party applicants (in terms of section 26(2) which amends paragraph 2 of schedule 2 to the 2006 Act).
74.The committee may cite any person to give evidence or information, including a third party applicant (in terms of section 26(3) which amends paragraph 3 of schedule 2 to the 2006 Act). No allowances or expenses are payable to the landlords, tenant, tenant or landlord representatives of third party applicants (in terms of section 26(4) which amends paragraph 5 of schedule 2 to the 2006 Act).
75.Section 26(5) also amends the procedures for recording and notification of decisions in paragraph 6 of schedule 2 to the 2006 Act, to include third party applications. Once a private rented housing committee reaches its decision it must send notification to the landlord, tenant, and any person acting for the tenant in relation to the application and the local authority, unless that authority is the third party applicant.
76.Section 26(6) amends paragraph 7(1) of schedule 2 to the 2006 Act to provide that a third party applicant may withdraw the application under new section 22A(1A) of the 2006 Act. Paragraph 7(2), however, provides that, despite the withdrawal the committee may continue to consider the case and make a repairing standard enforcement order if appropriate.