Settlement Agents Act 1981

The supervisor shall carry on the business for the purpose of concluding or disposing of matters commenced but not concluded on behalf of clients of the business and, where necessary, for the purpose of disposing of, or dealing with, documents relevant to those matters, and in the case of the business of a deceased settlement agent, shall carry on the business until it can otherwise be dealt with according to law.

The supervisor may, on production of his instrument of appointment —

require —

the settlement agent to whom the appointment relates, or any of his clerks, servants, or agents, or in the case of a deceased settlement agent, his personal representative or any of the former clerks, servants, or agents of the deceased settlement agent to produce to the supervisor any books, files, papers, or documents relating to the practice that, in the opinion of the supervisor, may be reasonably necessary for the purposes of carrying on the business; and

the manager or principal officer of a bank or other body in which the settlement agent or deceased settlement agent to whom the appointment relates has or had deposited money, notwithstanding any law, or rule of law, or contractual obligation, to the contrary, to disclose every account of that settlement agent or deceased settlement agent that, in the opinion of the supervisor, may be relevant to the carrying on of the business and to permit the making of a copy or extracts of any such account;

enter upon any premises of the settlement agent to whom the appointment relates, or, in the case of a deceased settlement agent, his former premises, and take possession of all books, files, papers, documents, and other things relating to the business, and that, in the opinion of the supervisor, may be relevant to or necessary for the carrying on of the business.