2(1)This paragraph applies where an enforcement authority proposes to impose a financial penalty for a breach of section 1 (prohibitions applying to landlords) or 2 (prohibitions applying to letting agents) or Schedule 2 (treatment of holding deposit).
(2)Before imposing the financial penalty, the enforcement authority must serve a notice on the landlord or letting agent of its proposal to do so (a “notice of intent”).
(3)The notice of intent must be served before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the first day on which the enforcement authority has sufficient evidence of the breach, subject to sub-paragraph (4).
(4)If the breach is committed on that day, and the breach continues beyond the end of that day, the notice of intent may be served—
(a)at any time when the breach is continuing, or
(b)within the period of 6 months beginning with the last day on which the breach occurs.
(5)The notice of intent must set out—
(a)the date on which the notice of intent is served,
(b)the amount of the proposed financial penalty,
(c)the reasons for proposing to impose the penalty, and
(d)information about the right to make representations under paragraph 3.