Cap. 604 · Private Residential Leases Act (Cap. 604)
Cap. 604 Art. 19Right of entry.
PART III
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, for the purposes of verifying whether any tenement is occupied for a residential purpose by any person or persons who are not the owners of the tenement and who would be occupying the tenement without a valid title of lease, for the sole reason that the lease agreement does not satisfy the requisites in writing of a contract of lease or ad validitatem that although it satisfies the requisites in writing is not ad validitatem registered in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Chairperson of the Authority and such officer, employee or any other person as may be authorised by the Chairperson for this purpose, and if so required by the Chairperson with the assistance of the Police Force, shall have the right to enter the private tenement, at all reasonable times in order to inspect the tenement, or verify whether the tenement is being occupied by any person, or to take any photographs after entering or request any legitimate information from any occupier of such tenement:
Provided that such access shall require the prior issue of a warrant signed by a Magistrate.
(2) For the purpose of any investigation on the violation of any other provision under the Act, the Chairperson of the Authority and such officer, employee or any other person as may be authorised by the Chairperson for this purpose, shall have the same right under sub-article (1), but not before giving notice of at least twenty four (24) hours to the occupant prior to the entry into the property.
(3) Any person authorised pursuant to sub-article (1) shall produce a means of identification issued by the Authority and thereon be authorised to enter the tenement.
(4) If any person makes any false report regarding the violation of any of the provisions of the Act, knowing the same to be false, he shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three (3) months or to a fine (multa) not exceeding five hundred euro (€500) or to both such imprisonment and fine (multa).