Estate Agents Act 1980

For the purpose of monitoring compliance with this Act or the regulations or carrying out any audit under this Act, an inspector, with the consent of the occupier of the premises, may—

enter and search any premises;

seize anything found on the premises which the inspector believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with a contravention of this Act or the regulations;

examine and take and keep samples of any goods found on the premises which the inspector believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with a contravention of this Act or the regulations;

inspect and make copies of, or take extracts from, any document found on the premises.

An inspector must not enter and search any premises with the consent of the occupier unless, before the occupier consents to that entry, the inspector has—

produced his or her identity card for inspection; and

informed the occupier—

of the purpose of the search; and

that the occupier may refuse to give consent to the entry and search or to the seizure of anything found during the search; and

that the occupier may refuse to consent to the taking of any sample of goods or any copy or extract from a document found on the premises during the search; and

that anything seized or taken during the search with the consent of the occupier may be used in evidence in proceedings.

If an occupier consents to an entry and search, the inspector who requested consent must before entering the premises ask the occupier to sign an acknowledgment stating—

that the occupier has been informed of the purpose of the search and that anything seized or taken in the search with the consent of the occupier may be used in evidence in proceedings; and

that the occupier has been informed that he or she may refuse to give consent to the entry and search or to the seizure of anything or to the taking of any sample, copy or extract; and

that the occupier has consented to such an entry and search; and

the date and time that the occupier consented.

If an occupier consents to the seizure or taking of any thing during a search under this section, the inspector must before seizing or taking the thing ask the occupier to sign an acknowledgment stating—

that the occupier has consented to the seizure or taking of the thing; and

the date and time that the occupier consented.

An occupier who signs an acknowledgment must be given a copy of the signed acknowledgment before the inspector leaves the premises.

If, in any proceeding, an acknowledgment is not produced to the court or a tribunal, it must be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the occupier did not consent to the entry and search or to the seizure or taking of the thing.