Part 2: Arbitration References to arbitration by tenant or landlord Section 9: Period for making a reference to arbitration
This section sets out the process for referring a dispute about relief from payment to arbitration.
	Subsection (1) states that this section applies when a tenant and landlord are in a dispute about the matter of relief from payment of a protected rent debt. The definition of "matter of relief from payment" is provided in section 6 and the definition of "protected rent debt" is provided in section 3.
	Subsection (2) states that either the landlord or the tenant can refer a dispute to arbitration within 6 months of this Act being passed by Parliament.
	Subsection (3) provides the Secretary of State with a power to extend the 6-month period for making a reference to arbitration by regulations. This power can be exercised separately for English or Welsh business tenancies, or collectively. Regulations to make this extension are subject to the negative resolution procedure (subsection (4)).