Section 135 amends sections 235 (power to require documents to be produced) and 239 (powers of entry) of the Housing Act 2004.
	Amendments to section 235 of the Housing Act 2004 provide that documents can now be also sought from a relevant person for purposes connected with functions under Part 7 (supplementary and final provisions) of that Act in relation to "qualifying residential premises" as defined in new section 2B of that Act.
	Amendments to section 239 of the Housing Act 2004 provide that the required notice when exercising a power of entry under that section can be waived by any occupier to whom notice is otherwise due in relation to qualifying residential premises. The amendments also remove the requirement in section 239 of the Housing Act 2004 for local housing authorities to provide prior notice of entry to owners of rented properties where the local authority officer considers it is necessary to inspect the premises in connection with the authority’s responsibilities in respect of housing standards under that Act. The officer of the local housing authority who is authorised to enter must give the owner notice of the entry to the property within a reasonable period after the power has been exercised. The notice must explain when the property was entered and why.
Part 4: Enforcement Chapter 3 – Investigatory Powers Section 135: Investigatory powers under the Housing Act 2004 Effect