3. If, in the case of a joint application, after making such inquiry, if any, as he thinks fit and considering any information supplied to him, the rent officer is not satisfied that the rent, or the highest rent, payable under the relevant rent agreement does not exceed a fair rent for the dwelling-house, he shall serve a notice under regulation 4 below.
4.—(1) A notice under this regulation shall be served on the landlord and on the tenant informing them that the rent officer proposes, at a time (which shall not be earlier than seven days after the service of the notice) and place specified in the notice to consider in consultation with the landlord and the tenant, or such of them as may appear at that time and place, whether the registration of the rent for the dwelling-house should be cancelled pursuant to section 73(4) of the 1977 Act.
(2) At any such consultation the landlord and the tenant may each be represented by a person authorised by him in that behalf, whether or not that person is of counsel or a solicitor.
(3) Where the rent officer is to consider, in accordance with paragraph (1) above, whether the registration of the rent for the dwelling-house should be cancelled, he shall not reach his decision until after such consideration.
(4) The rent officer may, where he considers it appropriate, arrange for consultation in respect of more than one joint application to be held together with consultations in respect of one or more other joint applications.