Section 123 gives an officer of a local housing authority the power to seize and detain documents after entering a property under section 118 (power to enter business premises without a warrant) and section 120 (power to enter business premises with a warrant). In order to exercise this power the officer must reasonably suspect that such documents may be required as evidence in proceedings relating to a breach of, or an offence under, the "rented accommodation legislation".
	Where occupiers are on the premises, before seizing documents, the officer must produce evidence of their identity and authority unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so.
	Subsection (4) provides that an officer seizing documents must take reasonable steps to inform the person from whom the documents are seized that they have been seized and give them a written record of what has been seized.
	Subsection (6) prevents an officer from seizing any document which the person would be entitled to refuse to produce in proceedings in the High Court on the grounds of legal professional privilege.
	Subsection (8) limits the length of time that seized documents can be detained for.
Part 4: Enforcement Chapter 3 – Investigatory Powers Section 123: Power to seize documents following entry Effect