Section 30B
Search by warrant
of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Act 1981
(1)
If it appears to a Magistrate, upon written information on oath and after such enquiry as he considers necessary, that there is reasonable cause to believe that an offence under this Act or any rules made under this Act is being or has been committed on any premises, the Magistrate may issue a warrant authorizing any police officer not below the rank of Inspector, or any person named in the warrant—
(a)
to enter the premises at any reasonable time, by day or by night, with or without assistance, and if need be by force;
(b)
to search for and seize at the premises any signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice or other device representing or implying that the person is a registered valuer, appraiser, estate agent or property manager, and any other document, article or item that is reasonably believed to furnish evidence of the commission of such offence; and
(c)
to detain any person found in the premises until the premises has been searched, if necessary.
(2)
Where, by reason of its nature, size or amount, it is not practicable to remove any signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, device, document, article or item seized under this section, the seizing officer or person shall, by any means, seal such signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, device, document, article or item in the premises or container in which it is found.
(3)
A person who, without lawful authority, breaks, tampers with or damages the seal referred to in subsection (2) or removes any signboard, card, letter, pamphlet, leaflet, notice, device, document, article or item under seal or attempts to do so commits an offence.
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