a. A proceeding prescribed by this act shall be commenced by the service of a petition and notice of a petition. A notice of petition may be issued only by a judge or a clerk of the court.

b. Notice of the proceeding shall be given to the nonpetitioning tenant occupying the dwelling by affixing a copy of the petition upon a conspicuous part of the subject dwelling.

L.1971, c. 224, s. 5, eff. June 21, 1971.