Explanatory note

These regulations modify and amend the procedure to be followed by rent assessment committees on certain references to the committees made after 1st January 1982. The existing procedure is in Schedules 11 and 12 to the Rent Act 1977 (as modified by the Regulated Tenancies (Procedure) Regulations 1980 and in the Rent Assessment Committees (England and Wales) Regulations 1971 (as amended by the Rent Assessment Committees (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1980)

The modifications and amendments:—

(1) reduce from 14 days to 7 days the period within which either representations in writing or a request to make oral representations may be made to the rent assessment committee;

(2) reduce from 14 days to 10 days the minimum notice which must be given of the date, time and place of a hearing of the committee where one is requested;

(3) reduce the minimum notice to 7 days where the notice inviting either representations in writing or a request to make oral representations itself says when the hearing will be if one is requested; and

(4) remove the necessity for the committee to give reasons for the decision in all cases. In future reasons need to be given only when a request to state such reasons is made on or before the giving or notification of the decision in accordance with section 12 of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 (c. 62).