Part 4 - Regulation of leasehold Section 57: Right to obtain service charge information on request
Section 57(1) makes clear that this Section makes further amendments to the 1985 Act to create a new right for tenants to request information from their landlord.
	Subsection (2) introduces Section 21F which sets out provisions that enable tenants to obtain information on request. Section 21F (1) allows a tenant to request specified information from their landlord. Section 21F (2) details that the appropriate authority may specify information only if it relates to (a) service charges or (b) services, repairs, maintenance, improvements, insurance or management of dwellings. Section 21F (3) requires the landlord to provide the tenant with any of the information requested that is in their possession.
	Section 21F(4) requires the landlord to request information from another person if three conditions are met: (a) the information has been requested under subsection (1); (b) landlord does not possess the information when the request is made, and (c) the landlord believes that the other person possesses the information. Section 21F (5) requires that person to provide the landlord with any of the information requested that is in their possession.
	Section 21F(6) requires a person ("A") to request the information from another person ("B") individual if (a) the person receives an information request under subsection (4) or subsection (6), (b) the person does not hold that information and (c) person A believes that person B possess that information. Section 21F (7) requires person B to provide person A with any of the information requested that is in person B’s possession.
	Section 21F(8) confers powers on the appropriate authority to make regulations to (a) provide for how a request may be made under this subsection; (b) provide that a request may not be made until the end of a particular period, or until after a condition is met; (c) provide for circumstances when a request under subsection (4) or (6) must be made; (d) provide for circumstance in which a duty to comply with a request under this Section does not apply.
	Section 21F(9) details that Section 21G makes further provision about information requests under this Section. Section 21F (10) sets out the definition of "information" for this Section as includes a document containing information, and a copy of such document. It also confirms that references to a tenant includes the secretary of a recognised tenants’ association representing the tenant, in circumstances where the tenant has consented to the association acting on their behalf.
	Section 21F(11) details that regulations under this Section are (a) to be made by statutory instrument; (b) may make provision generally or for specific cases; (c) may make different provision for different purposes; (d) may include supplementary, incidental, transitional or saving provision. Section 21F (12) sets out that the statutory instrument containing regulations under this Section is subject to the negative procedure.
	Section 21G gives further details on information requests under Section 21F. Section 21G (1) details that subsections (2) to (6) apply where a person (R) requests information under Section 21F from another person (P). Section 21G (2) states that person (R) may request that another person (P) provides them with by allowing (R) access to premises where (R) may inspect and/or make and remove a copy of the information. Section 21G (3) details that Person (P) must provide the information they are required to provide under Section 21F (a) before the end of a specified period that begins on the day of the request, and (b) if R has made a request under subsection 2, allow person (R) the access requested during a specified period. "Specified" under this subsection means "specified" in regulations made by the appropriate authority.
	Section 21G(4) details that Person (P) is allowed to charge person (R) for doing anything required under the Section. Section 21G (5) details that if (P) is a landlord, they may not charge the tenant for accessing the premises to inspect information but can charge for the cost of making copies. Section 21G (6) details that the costs referred to in subsection (4) may be relevant costs for the purposes of a variable service.
	Section 21G(7) details that regulations under Section 21G (3) may make provision for circumstances where a specified period can be extended. Section 21G (8) confers powers on the appropriate authority to set out in regulations further provision on how information under Section 21F is to be provided.
	Section 21G(9) details that regulations under this Section are (a) to be made by statutory instrument; (b) may make provision generally or for specific cases; (c) may make different provision for different purposes; (d) may include supplementary, incidental, transitional or saving provision.
	Section 21G(10) sets out that the statutory instrument containing regulations under this Section is subject to the negative procedure.
	Section 21H(1) provides that the assignment of tenancy does not affect an obligation arising as a result of the request under Section 21F before the assignment. Section 21H (2) states that, in the circumstances of such assignment, a person is not obliged to provide the same information more than once in respect of the same dwelling.
	Section 57(3) seeks to omit existing Sections 22, 23 and 24 of the 1985 Act.