Section 111 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 – Power to enter and inspect dwelling

(1)Subject to subsection (3), a mediator, an adjudicator or a member of the Tribunal or the Board who is dealing with a dispute under this Part may, for the purposes of his or her functions under this Part, enter and inspect any dwelling to which the dispute relates.

(2)The powers under subsection (1) may be exercised in relation to a dwelling to which a dispute relates even though the dwelling is occupied by a person who takes no part in the proceedings concerned or initially takes part in them but subsequently withdraws from them.

(3)The powers under subsection (1) shall not, without the consent of that person, be exercised in relation to a dwelling occupied by a person referred to in subsection (2) unless, at least 24 hours before the date on which the person concerned intends to exercise those powers, he or she serves on the first-mentioned person a notice of that intention.

(4)A person mentioned in subsection (1) may authorise in writing a person who he or she is satisfied has an expertise in any area relevant to the dispute concerned (for example, engineering, valuation or surveying) to exercise the powers under that subsection in relation to the dwelling concerned; a person so authorised shall, if requested, produce to any person concerned his or her authorisation under this subsection before exercising the powers under subsection (1).

(5)A person who obstructs or impedes a person mentioned in subsection (1), or a person authorised under subsection (4), in the exercise of his or her powers under this section is guilty of an offence.