This section extends two existing powers in the Housing Act 2004 which allow local housing authorities to use council tax, housing benefit and tenancy deposit scheme information for purposes connected with exercising their functions under the listed legislation and for the purposes of investigating whether certain housing offences have been committed under the same listed legislation.
	The provisions that are brought into scope include rental discrimination, landlord redress schemes, the Private Rented Sector Database, unlawful eviction and harassment, assured tenancies, redress schemes for letting and property management agents, banning orders, rent repayment orders and client money protection schemes.
	This information can be used to build local housing authorities’ evidence when investigating suspected breaches and offences in relation to the listed legislative provisions.
Part 4: Enforcement Chapter 3 – Investigatory Powers Section 134: Use by local housing authority of certain information Background