Structure and Summary of the Act Part 2 - Houses in Multiple Occupation Section 16 - Guidance
26.Section 186 of the 2006 Act allows a local authority to require certain people to provide information relating to the land or premises to help it carry out its functions under HMO licensing. Any person who is required to provide such information and fails to do so, or knowingly or recklessly provides false or misleading information, is guilty of an offence with a fine on summary conviction not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale. Section 16 of the Act amends section 163(1) of the 2006 Act to enable the Scottish Ministers to give guidance over the use of the information gathering powers contained in section 186. Such guidance may be used to inform local authorities how best to deal with vulnerable persons who are reluctant or unwilling to provide information for fear of reprisals.