(1)A person authorised by the local housing authority or the Secretary of State may at any reasonable time, on giving 24 hours' notice of his intention to the occupier, and to the owner if the owner is known, enter premises for the purpose of survey and examination where it appears to the authority or the Secretary of State that survey or examination is necessary in order to determine whether any powers under this Part should be exercised in respect of the premises.
(2)An authorisation for the purposes of this section shall be in writing stating the particular purpose or purposes for which the entry is authorised.
(1)It is a summary offence to obstruct an officer of the local housing authority or of the Secretary of State, or any person authorised to enter premises in pursuance of this Part, in the performance of anything which he is by this Part required or authorised to do.
(2)A person committing such an offence is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.
In this Part—
“house” includes any yard, garden, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to the house or usually enjoyed with it;
“owner” in relation to premises—
means a person (other than a mortgagee not in possession) who is for the time being entitled to dispose of the fee simple in the premises, whether in possession or in reversion, and
includes also a person holding or entitled to the rents and profits of the premises under a lease of which the unexpired term exceeds three years.
The following Table shows provisions defining or otherwise explaining expressions used in this Part (other than provisions defining or otherwise explaining an expression used in the same section or paragraph):
| building regulations | section 622 |
| business (in Part II of Schedule 24) | paragraph 5 of that Part |
| clearance area | section 289 |
| closing order | section 267(2) |
| demolition order | |
| (generally) | section 267(1) |
| (in Schedules 23 and 24 | section 588(2) |
| district valuer | section 622 |
| house | |
| (generally) | section 602 |
| (in Part I of Schedule 24) | paragraph 5(1) of that Part |
| (in Part II of Schedule 24) | paragraph 5 of that Part |
| interest in a house | |
| (in Part I of Schedule 24) | paragraph 5(1) of that Part |
| (in Part II of Schedule 24) | paragraph 5 of that Part |
| lease and lessee | section 621 |
| local housing authority | section 1, 2(2) |
| member of family (in Part I of Schedule 24) | paragraph 6 of that Part |
| owner | section 602 |
| prescribed | section 614 |
| site value | section 585 |
| relevant date (in Part I or II of Schedule 24) | paragraph 1(2) of that Part |
| statutory tenant | section 622 |
| unfit for human habitation | section 604 |