Rent Restrictions Act, 1946

Reference by District Justices of questions affecting rateable valuation or rent of small premises to valuers.

36.—(1) The District Justice assigned to a district to which a district court valuer is assigned may refer to such district court valuer for investigation and report to him any question affecting the rateable valuation or rent of small premises the subject of any proceedings before him under this Part or involving the rent being paid or payable for other small premises.

(2) The District Justice assigned to a district to which a district court valuer is not assigned may refer to such person (in this section referred to as a special valuer) as he thinks fit for investigation and report to him any question affecting the rateable valuation or rent of any small premises the subject of proceedings before him under this Part of this Act or involving the rent being paid or payable for other small premises.

(3) Special valuers shall be remunerated by the Minister at such rates as may be prescribed by the Minister for Finance.

(4) A district court valuer or a special valuer to whom a District Justice has referred any question under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section may, if authorised in writing by the District Justice so to do, and on production, if demanded, of such authorisation, at all reasonable hours enter and inspect any premises specified in that behalf in such authorisation.

(5) If any person refuses to permit a district court valuer or a special valuer to enter or inspect any premises in exercise of his powers under subsection (4) of this section, or obstructs or interferes with him in the exercise of those powers, he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and shall, on summary conviction thereof, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or a fine not exceeding ten pounds or both such imprisonment and such fine.