Legislation – Renters’ Rights Act 2025
Part 4Enforcement
Chapter 3Investigatory powers
Investigatory powers under this Act
131Offences
(1)
A person commits an offence if the person—
(a)
without reasonable excuse obstructs an officer of a local housing authority who is exercising or seeking to exercise in accordance with this Chapter a power under any provision of this Chapter other than section 115,
(b)
without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement properly imposed by an officer of a local housing authority under any provision of this Chapter other than section 115, or
(c)
without reasonable cause fails to give an officer of a local housing authority any other assistance or information which the officer reasonably requires of the person for the purpose of exercising a power under any provision of this Chapter other than section 115.
(2)
A person commits an offence if, in giving information to an officer who is exercising or seeking to exercise a power under this Chapter, the person—
(a)
makes a statement which the person knows is false or misleading in a material respect, or
(b)
recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading in a material respect.
(3)
A person who is not an officer of a local housing authority commits an offence if the person purports to act as such under this Chapter.
(4)
(5)
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.
(6)
Nothing in this section requires a person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.