12.—(1) The council must decide whether to grant or refuse an application for an HMO licence before the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which the council received it.
(2) A court of summary jurisdiction may extend the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) in the case of a particular HMO application.
(3) An order under sub-paragraph (2) is to be made on an application made by the council before the end of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).
(4) The applicant for the licence is entitled to be a party to any proceedings on an application under sub-paragraph (3).
(5) The decision of a court on an application under sub-paragraph (3) is to be final.
(6) If the council does not determine an application for an HMO licence before the end of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) (or that period as extended), the applicant is to be treated as having been granted a licence in the terms applied for.
(7) Sub-paragraph (6) does not prevent the council from varying or revoking a licence which is treated as having been granted in accordance with that sub-paragraph.