Housing Act 1969

Procedure on application to rent officer

5 On receiving the application for registration the rent officer shall ascertain whether any differences are specified in the qualification certificate in accordance with section 46(4) of this Act.

6 If no differences are so specified and the application was made not later than three months after the issue of the qualification certificate, the rent officer shall register the rent in accordance with the certificate of fair rent.

7 In any other case he shall serve a notice on the tenant informing him of the application and specifying a period of not less than seven days from fee service of the notice during which representations in writing may be made to the rent officer against the registration of the rent specified in the certificate.

8 Where no such representations are made then, unless it appears to the rent officer that the rent specified in the certificate of fair rent is higher than a fair rent, he shall register that rent and notify the landlord and tenant accordingly.

9 (1) Where representations are made as mentioned in paragraph 7 of this Schedule or the rent officer is of opinion that the rent specified in the certificate of fair rent is higher than a fair rent he shall serve notice on the landlord and on the tenant informing them that he proposes, at a time (which shall not be earlier than seven days after the service of the notice) and place specified in the notice to consider in consultation with the landlord and the tenant, or such of them as may appear at that time and place, what rent, not exceeding that specified in the certificate of fair rent, ought to be registered.

(2) At any such consultation the landlord and tenant may each be represented by a person authorised by him in that behalf, whether or not that person is of counsel or a solicitor.

10 (1) The rent officer shall consider, in accordance with the preceding paragraph, what rent ought to be registered, and—

(a) if, after considering it, he is of opinion that the rent specified in the certificate is not higher than a fair rent he shall register it; but

(b) if, after considering it, he is of opinion that the rent so specified is higher than a fair rent he shall determine a fair rent and register that rent,

as the rent for the dwelling, and shall give notice of the registration to the landlord and the tenant.

(2) The notice shall state that if, within twenty-eight days of the service of the notice or such longer period as the rent officer or a rent assessment committee may allow, an objection in writing is received by the rent officer from the landlord or die tenant the matter will be referred to a rent assessment committee.

11 (1) If such an objection is received, then—

(a) if it is received within the period of twenty-eight days mentioned in the preceding paragraph or a rent assessment committee so direct, the rent officer shall refer the matter to a rent assessment committee ;

(b) if it is received after that period, the rent officer may either refer the matter to a rent assessment committee or seek the directions of a rent assessment committee whether so to refer it.

(2) The rent officer shall indicate in the register whether the matter has been referred to a rent assessment committee in pursuance of this paragraph.