Part 2: Arbitration Arbitration fees and oral hearings Section 19: Arbitration fees and expenses
Subsection (1)(a) and (b) state that any references to "arbitration fees" in this section are to the fees and expenses to be paid to the arbitrator (including any oral hearing fees) and the fees and expenses of any approved arbitration body.
	Subsection (2) gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations specifying limits on the arbitration fees to be paid by parties. This could include introducing a sliding scale for arbitration fees depending on the amount of protected rent debt being considered in an arbitration case.
	Regulations made under subsection (2) are subject to the negative resolution procedure in Parliament (subsection (3)).
	Subsection (4) requires arbitration fees to be paid upfront by the applicant before arbitration can take place. This requirement provides certainty to the arbitrator or panel of arbitrators and the approved arbitration body that their fees and expenses will be paid.
	Subsection (5) provides the general rule that when making an award (under sections 13 or 14) the arbitrator should require the other party to the arbitration to reimburse the party that made the reference to arbitration for half of the arbitration fees (other than oral hearing fees which are dealt with in Section 20). That is subject to subsection (6), which states that the general rule in section 19(5) does not apply if the arbitrator considers it appropriate to award a different proportion in the circumstances of the case. That proportion may be between (and including) 0% and 100% of the fees.
	Subsection (7) requires parties to meet their own legal and other costs incurred, except where the arbitrator has made a determination in relation to the reimbursement of arbitration fees and/or oral hearing fees.
	Subsection (8) clarifies that no term of a lease may be used to recover costs incurred in connection with arbitration (including arbitration fees).
	Subsection (9) provides the meaning of "applicant" for the purposes of this section, which is the party making the reference to arbitration.