Section 131 OffencesI1

England and Wales

(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)

A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(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.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: S. 131 in force at 27.12.2025, see s. 145(5)(d)