The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 is amended as follows.
In section 107 (collection)—
for subsection (1) substitute— 1 The regulator, or a person authorised under subsection (4A), may for a purpose connected with the regulator's functions require a person to provide documents or information which the regulator or person authorised (as the case may be) has reason to believe is or may be in the person's possession.;
omit subsection (2);
before subsection (3), insert— 2A A requirement under subsection (1) may also require the person to provide an explanation of any document or information required under that subsection.;
in subsection (3)—
in the opening words, after "requirement" insert ;"under subsection (1)"
in paragraph (a), for "document or information" substitute ;"document, information or an explanation"
in subsection (4), for "documents or information" substitute ;"documents, information or explanations"
after subsection (4) insert— 4A The regulator may in writing authorise a person to exercise any of its powers under this section. 4B An authorisation— a must specify the extent to which the person is authorised to exercise the powers, and b may provide that the person is to be authorised for a particular period.;
in subsection (5), after "requirement" insert ;"under subsection (1)"
in subsection (6), for "to which a requirement relates" substitute ;"required under subsection (1)"
after subsection (6) insert— 6A Knowingly or recklessly providing the regulator, or a person authorised under subsection (4A), with a document, information or an explanation which is false or misleading in purported compliance with a requirement under subsection (1) is an offence.;
in subsection (7), after "requirement" insert ."under subsection (1)"
In section 108 (section 107: supplemental)—
in subsection (1), after "requirement" insert ;"under section 107(1)"
for subsection (2) substitute— 2 A requirement under section 107(1) does not require a banker to breach a duty of confidentiality owed to a person who is not— a a registered provider, b a subsidiary of a registered provider, c an associate of a registered provider, or d a person who is certified in writing by the regulator as being— i a person who has applied to be entered in the register of providers of social housing, or ii a local authority which the regulator thinks may be, or may become, a provider of social housing.;
in subsection (3), omit the words from "not" to the end;
in subsection (4)—
in the words before paragraph (a), after "107(6)" insert ;"or (6A)"
in paragraph (a) omit the words from "not" to the end;
in subsection (5), for "or (6)" substitute .", (6) or (6A)"