2(1)If it appears to the rent officer that the information supplied to him is insufficient to enable him to issue a certificate of fair rent he shall serve on the applicant a notice stating that he will not entertain the application and that, if a request in writing to that effect is made by the applicant within 14 days from the service of the notice or such longer period as a rent officer or a rent assessment committee may allow, the rent officer will refer the application to a rent assessment committee.S
(2)If such a request is made, then—
(a)if it is made within the period of 14 days referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above or a rent assessment committee so direct, the rent officer shall refer the application to a rent assessment committee;
(b)if it is made after the expiry of that period, the rent officer may either refer the application to a rent assessment committee or seek the directions of a rent assessment committee whether so to refer it.