Before giving a compensation notice to a private registered provider the regulator must give the provider a notice (a "pre-compensation warning")—
specifying grounds on which the regulator thinks compensation could be awarded,
warning the provider that the regulator is considering awarding compensation to a specified person,
including any indication that the regulator is able to give of the likely amount of any compensation, and
explaining the effect of sections 243, 244(1) and (3) and 245.
Before giving a pre-compensation warning the regulator must consult the housing ombudsman for the scheme of which the registered provider is a member.
If the regulator gives a pre-compensation warning it must send a copy to—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the HCA,
the Greater London Authority (if the pre-compensation warning is given to a registered provider who owns land in Greater London), and
any other persons it thinks appropriate.
For the purposes of subsection (3)(b) the regulator shall consider, in particular, any person who provided information as a result of which the pre-compensation warning is given.
A pre-compensation warning must—
refer to section 125 (voluntary undertaking), and
indicate whether or to what extent the regulator would accept a voluntary undertaking instead of, or in mitigation of, awarding compensation.
A pre-compensation warning may be combined with notice under one or more of sections 230, 248, 250 and 252.