Procedure of Tribunal on application under section 14 or 15

(1) Within fourteen days of the receipt of a notice of application made under section 13(6) or under section 14 or 15 of this Act, the Chairperson of the Tribunal to which the application is made shall cause to be served on the landlord and the tenant a notice specifying the date on which, the place where and the time at which the Tribunal shall sit to hear and determine the application and every such notice served on the landlord shall be accompanied by a copy of the notice of application of the tenant. (2) Service of a notice under subsection (1) of this section, shall be effected in the manner provided by section 7 (1) of this Act for the service of a notice to terminate a tenancy to which this Act applies. (3) On the hearing of an application made under section 14 of this Act, the burden of proving that the rent ought to be increased shall lie upon the landlord and, if any question arises as to the date on and from which such increase shall take effect, the burden of proving that such date ought to be postponed shall lie upon the tenant. (4) On the hearing of an application made under section 15 of this Act, the burden of proving that the rent ought to be reduced shall lie upon the tenant. (5) Where the Tribunal to which an application is made under section 14 or 15 of this Act is satisfied that the rent ought to be increased to the amount demanded by the landlord, or, as the case may be, reduced to the amount claimed by the tenant, the Tribunal shall direct that the amount of rent so demanded or claimed shall be the rent payable, but if the Tribunal is not so satisfied, it may direct that the amount of the increase, or reduction of rent so demanded or claimed be reduced by such amount as it considers just or that no increase or reduction of rent be allowed. (6) Where the Tribunal to which an application is made under section 14 is satisfied that the rent ought to be increased 20 and that the increase ought to take effect on and from the date specified in the notice of increase of rent, the Tribunal shall direct that such increase of rent as pursuant to subsection (5) of this section it may direct to be paid, shall become payable on and from such date, and if the Tribunal is satisfied that the rent ought to be increased but is not satisfied that the increase ought to take effect on and from the date specified in the notice of increase of rent, the Tribunal shall direct that such increase of rent as pursuant to subsection (5) of this section it may direct to be paid, shall become payable on and from such date, not being a date more than six months after the date so specified, as it shall think just.