Rent Act 1977

Procedure on application to rent officer

10 (1) On receiving an application for the registration of a rent which is made as mentioned in section 69(4) of this Act, the rent officer shall ascertain whether the works specified in the certificate have been carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications which accompanied the application for the certificate or, as the case may be, whether—

(a) the condition of the dwelling-house is the same as at the date of the certificate, and

(b) if any furniture is or is to be provided for use under a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house, the quantity, quality and condition of the furniture in the dwelling-house accords with, the prescribed particulars contained in the application for the certificate.

(2) If the rent officer is satisfied that the works have been so carried out or, as the case may be, that—

(a) the dwelling-house is in the same condition as at the date of the certificate, and

(b) if any furniture is or is to be provided for use under a regulated tenancy of the dwelling-house, the quantity, quality and condition of the furniture in the dwelling-house accords with the prescribed particulars contained in the application for the certificate,

he shall register the rent in accordance with the certificate.

(3) If the rent officer is not satisfied as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above, he shall serve on the applicant a notice stating the matters with respect to which he is not so satisfied and informing him that if, within 14 days from the service of the notice or such longer period as the rent officer or a rent assessment committee may allow, the applicant makes a request in writing to that effect, the rent officer will refer the matter to a rent assessment committee.

11 If such a request as is mentioned in paragraph 10(3) above is made, then—

(a) if it is made within the period of 14 days specified in that paragraph or a rent assessment committee so direct, the rent officer shall refer the matter to a rent assessment committee ;

(b) if it is made after the expiry of 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.