Part 2: Arbitration Arbitration awards Section 14: Arbitrator’s award on the matter of relief from payment
This section sets out how an arbitrator should resolve the payment of a protected rent debt as required by section 13(5)(b).
	Subsection (2) states that before making an award, the arbitrator must consider any final proposal put forward by a party under section 11.
	The arbitrator must consider the final proposals against the principles outlined in section 15. Subsection (3) applies where both parties have put forward final proposals. If the arbitrator considers that both proposals are consistent with the principles, the arbitrator is required to make the award in line with whichever of the proposals they consider to be most consistent with the principles (paragraph (a)). If the arbitrator considers that only one of the final proposals is consistent with the principles, the arbitrator must make the award set out in that proposal (paragraph (b)).
	Subsection (4) provides that where only the party making the arbitration reference puts forward a final proposal, the arbitrator must make the award set out in that proposal if the arbitrator considers it is consistent with the principles in section 15.
	Subsection (5) states that where neither proposal put forward by the parties is consistent with the principles, the arbitrator must make an award that they consider appropriate applying the principles in section 15.
	Subsection (6) provides that an award under this section may either give the tenant relief from payment of the debt, or state that the tenant will not be given relief from payment.
	Subsections (7) and (8) provide that where an award under subsection (6)(a) gives the tenant time to repay the debt, including in instalments, the dates for payment must be within a period of 24 months, with such period beginning on the day after that on which the award is made.
	Subsection (9) sets out expressly how an arbitral award affects the terms of the tenancy regarding rent, only in respect of protected rent.
	Subsection (10) sets out how an arbitral award affects the liability of the tenant or other person such as a guarantor or former tenant. It sets out expressly that a tenant will not be in breach of covenant and so at risk of forfeiture for failure to pay the rent if the tenant complies with the award. If a guarantor or former tenant ultimately pays then they are only liable for the amount in the award and not the original debt, and that applies whether a guarantor has technically provided a guarantee or indemnity. It also sets out expressly that an amount payable under an award should be treated as rent payable under the tenancy, for the purposes of the tenancy.
	Subsection (11) defines "final proposal" to mean a revised formal proposal put forward by a party under section 11(4), or if there is no revised formal proposal by a party, the formal proposal made by the party under section 11(1) or (2).