New Clause 32 - Power to require production of documents following entry

Renters (Reform) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 3:00 pm ar 28 Tachwedd 2023.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

“(1) An officer of a local housing authority who has entered premises under section (

(a) require a relevant person occupying the premises, or anyone on the premises acting on behalf of such a person, to produce any documents relating to the relevant business to which the person on the premises has access, and

(b) take copies of, or of any entry in, any such document.

(2) The purposes are—

(a) to ascertain whether there has been compliance with the rented accommodation legislation where an officer of the local housing authority reasonably suspects a breach of, or an offence under, that legislation;

(b) to ascertain whether the documents may be required as evidence in proceedings for such a breach or offence.

(3) The power in subsection (1) is available regardless of whether—

(a) the purpose for which the documents are required relates to the relevant person or some other person, or

(b) the proceedings referred to in subsection (2)(b) could be taken against the relevant person or some other person.

(4) That power includes power to require the person to give an explanation of the documents.

(5) Where a document required to be produced under subsection (1) contains information recorded electronically, the power in that subsection includes power to require the production of a copy of the document in a form in which it can easily be taken away and in which it is visible and legible.

(6) This section does not permit an officer to require a person to create a document other than as described in subsection (5).

(7) This section does not permit an officer to require a person to produce any document which the person would be entitled to refuse to produce in proceedings in the High Court on the grounds of legal professional privilege.

(8) In this section ‘relevant business’ means the business for the purposes of which the premises are occupied.”—

This new clause contains a power for an officer of a local housing authority who has entered premises under NC28, or under a warrant under NC30, to require the production of documents for certain purposes connected with the “rented accommodation legislation” as defined in NC25.

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.