18A.—(1) Where, in the opinion of a housing authority, a landlord is contravening or has contravened a requirement of a regulation made under section 18, the authority may give notice in writing (in this Act referred to as an “improvement notice”) to the landlord of the house concerned.

(2) An improvement notice shall—

(a) state that the housing authority is of the opinion referred to in subsection (1),

(b) state the reasons for that opinion,

(c) identify the provision of the regulation concerned in respect of which that opinion is held,

(d) direct the landlord to remedy the contravention within the period specified in the notice commencing on the date specified therein, which date shall not be earlier than the end of the period within which an objection may be submitted under subsection (6),

(e) include information regarding the submission of an objection and the making of an appeal in relation to the notice, specifying—

(i) the form and manner of an objection,

(ii) the form and manner of an appeal, and

(iii) the address of the housing authority for the purpose of submitting an objection under subsection (6) or notifying the authority of an appeal under subsection (7), as the case may be,

(f) contain a statement that if an objection is not submitted in accordance with subsection (6) and within the period specified in that subsection then—

(i) the notice will be treated as not disputed, and

(ii) the landlord will be deemed to have accepted the notice and to have agreed to comply with the direction within the period specified therein,

and

(g) be signed and dated by the housing authority.

(3) An improvement notice may include directions as to the measures to be taken to remedy the contravention to which the notice relates or to otherwise comply with the notice.

(4) Where an improvement notice is given under subsection (1), the housing authority shall give a copy to the tenant of the house concerned.

(5) (a) A landlord to whom an improvement notice has been given who is of the opinion that the improvement notice has been complied with shall, before the expiration of the period specified in the notice for the purpose of subsection (2)(d), confirm in writing to the housing authority that the matters referred to in the notice have been so remedied and shall give a copy of the confirmation to the tenant.

(b) Where a landlord confirms to the housing authority in accordance with paragraph (a) that the matters referred to in the improvement notice have been remedied, the housing authority, on being satisfied that the matters have been so remedied, shall, within 28 days of receiving such confirmation, give notice in writing to the landlord of compliance with the improvement notice and shall give a copy of the notice to the tenant.

(c) The notice under paragraph (b) does not preclude any inspection which the housing authority considers necessary in relation to the house concerned or the service of a further improvement notice which the authority may consider necessary.

(6) A landlord aggrieved by an improvement notice may, within 14 days beginning on the day on which the notice is given to him or her, submit an objection to the notice in the form and manner specified in the notice, and the housing authority shall consider the objection and, as it sees fit, vary, withdraw, cancel or confirm the notice and shall notify the landlord in writing of the decision and the reasons for the decision within 14 days after receipt of the objection.

(7) (a) The landlord may, no later than 14 days after the decision under subsection (6) is notified by the housing authority to him or her, appeal the decision to a judge of the District Court in the district court district in which the notice was served.

(b) A landlord who appeals under paragraph (a) shall at the same time notify the housing authority in writing of the appeal and the grounds for the appeal.

(c) The housing authority shall be entitled to appear, be heard and adduce evidence on the hearing of the appeal.

(d) In determining an appeal under paragraph (a), the judge of the District Court may confirm, vary or cancel the improvement notice if he or she considers it reasonable to do so.

(8) Where an objection is submitted under subsection (6) and no appeal is made under subsection (7) against the decision of the housing authority and the improvement notice is neither withdrawn nor cancelled, the notice takes effect on the later of the following:

(a) the day after the day on which the notice is confirmed or varied;

(b) the day after the objection is withdrawn by the landlord;

(c) the date specified in the notice.

(9) Where an appeal is made under subsection (7) and the improvement notice is neither withdrawn nor cancelled, the notice takes effect on the later of the following:

(a) the day after the day on which the notice is confirmed or varied on appeal;

(b) the day after the appeal is withdrawn by the landlord;

(c) the date specified in the notice.

(10) Where no objection is submitted under subsection (6) the improvement notice takes effect on the date specified in the notice.

(11) The housing authority may—

(a) withdraw an improvement notice at any time, or

(b) where no objection is submitted or appeal made or pending, extend the date specified in the notice for the purposes of subsection (2)(d).

(12) Withdrawal of an improvement notice under subsection (11) does not prevent the giving of another improvement notice, whether in respect of the same matter or a different matter.]