xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
F1(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F2(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 24(1) repealed (1.10.1992) by Tribunals and Enquiries Act 1992 (c. 53), ss. 18(2), 19(2), Sch. 4 Pt.I.
F2S. 24(2) repealed (1.11.2007) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 148, Sch. 8 para. 8, Sch. 23 Pt. 1; S.I. 2007/2709, art. 3(b)(d)(i)
(1)Subject to section 26(3) below, it is the duty of the [F4lead enforcement authority]—
(a)generally to superintend the working and enforcement of this Act, and
(b)where necessary or expedient, [F5itself] to take steps to enforce this Act.
(2)It is the duty of the [F6lead enforcement authority], so far as appears to [F7it] to be practicable and having regard both to the national interest and the interests of persons engaged in estate agency work and of consumers, to keep under review and from time to time advise the Secretary of State about—
(a)social and commercial developments in the United Kingdom and elsewhere relating to the carrying on of estate agency work and related activities; and
(b)the working and enforcement of this Act.
(3)The [F8lead enforcement authority] shall arrange for the dissemination, in such form and manner as [F9it] considers appropriate, of such information and advice as it may appear to [F7it] expedient to give the public in the United Kingdom about the operation of this Act.
Textual Amendments
F3Words in s.25 heading substituted (31.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(5), Sch. 2 para. 1(9)(a) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, 2 paras. 13-15)
F4Words in s. 25(1) substituted (31.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(5), Sch. 2 para. 1(9)(b) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, 2 paras. 13-15)
F5Word in s. 25(1) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 9(12)(b); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)
F6Words in s. 25(2) substituted (31.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(5), Sch. 2 para. 1(9)(b) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, 2 paras. 13-15)
F7Word in s. 25(2)(3) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 9(12)(c); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)
F8Words in s. 25(3) substituted (31.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(5), Sch. 2 para. 1(9)(b) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, 2 paras. 13-15)
F9Word in s. 25(3) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 9(12)(d); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)
(1)Without prejudice to section 25(1) above, the following authorities (in this Act referred to as “enforcement authorities”) have a duty to enforce this Act—
(a)the [F10lead enforcement authority],
(b)in Great Britain, a local weights and measures authority, and
(c)in Northern Ireland, the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland.
F11(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)Nothing in this section or in section 25 above authorises an enforcement authority to institute proceedings in Scotland for an offence.
(4)Every local weights and measures authority shall, whenever the [F12lead enforcement authority] requires, report to [F13it] in such form and with such particulars as [F13it] requires on the exercise of their functions under this Act.
(5)–(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14
Textual Amendments
F10Words in s. 26(1)(a) substituted (31.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(5), Sch. 2 para. 1(10)(a) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, 2 paras. 13-15)
F11S. 26(2) repealed (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 9(13)(b), Sch. 26; S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)
F12Words in s. 26(4) substituted (31.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(5), Sch. 2 para. 1(10)(a) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, 2 paras. 13-15)
F13Word in s. 26(4) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 9(13)(c); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)
F14S. 26(5)–(8) repealed by Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65, SIF 81:1, 2), s. 1(4), Sch. 34 Pt. IV
(1)Any person who—
(a)wilfully obstructs an authorised officer, or
F15(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c)without reasonable cause fails to give an authorised officer [F16 any ] assistance or information he may reasonably require in performing his functions under this Act, or
(d)in giving information to an authorised officer, makes any statement which he knows to be false,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F17level 4 on the standard scale].
[F18(1A)A failure to give assistance or information shall not constitute an offence under subsection (1)(c) if it is also a failure in relation to which an authorised officer may apply for an order under section 11A above.]
(2)A person who is not an authorised officer but purports to act as such shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F17level 5 on the standard scale].
(3)In this section “authorised officer” means a duly authorised officer of an enforcement authority who is acting in pursuance of this Act.
(4)Nothing in subsection (1) above requires a person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person or that person’s [F19spouse or civil partner] .
Textual Amendments
F15S. 27(1)(b) repealed (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), ss. 58(4)(a)(i), 66(2), Sch. 8 (with s. 48(3)); S.I. 2008/905, art. 3(2), Sch. 2
F16Word in s. 27(1)(c) substituted (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), ss. 58(4)(a)(ii), 66(2) (with s. 48(3)); S.I. 2008/905, art. 3(2), Sch. 2
F17Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6
F18S. 27(1A) inserted (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), ss. 58(4)(b), 66(2) (with s. 48(3)); S.I. 2008/905, art. 3(2), Sch. 2
F19Words in s. 27(4) substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(10)(b), Sch. 27 para. 62; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(2)