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Section 397: Warrant to authorise entry.

Housing Act 1985 · 1985 c. 68View on legislation.gov.uk

Part XI: HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Where it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace, on sworn information in writing, that admission to premises specified in the information is reasonably required by a person employed by, or acting on the instructions of, the local housing authority—

for the purpose of survey and examination to determine whether any powers under this Part should be exercised in respect of the premises, or
for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence has been committed under any of the provisions of this Part listed in section 395(2),

the justice may by warrant under his hand authorise that person to enter on the premises for those purposes or for such of those purposes as may be specified in the warrant.

The justice shall not grant the warrant unless he is satisfied—

that admission to the premises has been refused and, except where the purpose specified in the information is that mentioned in subsection (1)(b), that admission was sought after not less than 24 hours' notice of the intended entry had been given to the occupier, or
that application for admission would defeat the purpose of the entry.

The power of entry conferred by the warrant includes power to enter by force, if need be, and may be exercised by the person on whom it is conferred either alone or together with other persons.

If the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent, a person entering under the authority of the warrant shall leave the premises as effectively secured against trespassers as he found them.

The warrant continues in force until the purpose for which the entry is required is satisfied.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.