PART 1REGULATION OF PRIVATE RENTED HOUSING
Information
36Requests for information from authorities and use of information by authorities
(1)
If a licensing authority requests that a local housing authority provides it with information to which subsection (2) applies and which it requires for the purpose of exercising its functions under this Part, the local housing authority must comply with the request unless the local housing authority considers that doing so would—
(a)
be incompatible with the local housing authority's own duties, or
(b)
otherwise have an adverse effect on the exercise of the local housing authority's functions.
(2)
This subsection applies to any information which has been obtained by a local housing authority in the exercise of its—
(a)
functions as the local housing authority;
(b)
functions under Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (council tax).
(3)
Information obtained by a local housing authority under section 134 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (housing benefit) before the repeal of that section by Schedule 14 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 is to be treated as information to which subsection (2) applies.
(4)
If a licensing authority requests that another licensing authority provide it with information to which subsection (5) applies and which it requires for the purpose of exercising its functions under this Part, the other authority must comply with the request unless the other authority considers that doing so would—
(a)
be incompatible with its own duties, or
(b)
otherwise have an adverse effect on the exercise of its functions.
(5)
This subsection applies to any information which has been obtained by a licensing authority in the exercise of its functions under this Part.
(6)
A licensing authority may use any information to which subsection (2) or (5) applies (whether or not obtained under subsection (1) or (4)) for any purpose connected with the exercise of the authority's functions under this Part.
(7)
If a local housing authority requests that a licensing authority provide it with information to which subsection (5) applies and which it requires for the purpose of exercising its functions under this Part, the licensing authority must comply with the request unless the licensing authority considers that doing so would—
(a)
be incompatible with its own duties, or
(b)
otherwise have an adverse effect on the exercise of its functions.
(8)
A local housing authority may use any information to which subsection (2) or (5) applies (whether or not obtained under (7)) for any purpose connected with the exercise of the authority's functions under this Part.