7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the adjudicator may dispose of an appeal without a hearing.
(2) The adjudicator must not dispose of an appeal without a hearing if either party has requested a hearing unless—
(a)the party who made the request withdraws his or her request before notice of a hearing has been sent to the other party under regulation 8; or
(b)both parties have subsequently consented to the appeal being disposed of without a hearing.
(3) Unless both parties consent to the disposal taking place on an earlier date, the adjudicator must not dispose of an appeal without a hearing until after the expiry of 28 days beginning on the day an acknowledgement is sent in accordance with regulation 4.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in paragraphs (2) and (3), if both parties, having been sent a notice of the hearing of an appeal in accordance with regulation 8, fail to attend or be represented at the hearing, the adjudicator may subsequently dispose of the appeal without a hearing.