Access rights for council health board staff

ScouseMouse

Hi everyone.

What access rights do council inspectors or EHO's have to inspect private land and homes?

As an example: we believe you may have been doing something in your back garden or there is a problem in your house or we have had a report....... etc etc.

Just curious of course.

Thanks all.

Victor

I get the impression that their access rights are much more liberal than those for the Garda, who need permission or a warrant. It would somewhat depend on the location and what legislation they are acting under.

ScouseMouse

So if someone like that knocked on the door of private house, I am assuming the householder would be entitled to tell them to get lost?

Go and get a warrant. The situation envisaged could be something under air pollution act 1987 and waste disposal burning 2009.

Just to be clear, this is NOTHING to do with me. In the past though I have have this person or that person knock on my door asking me about something.

Manach

From what I remember (offhand) from the European Court's ECHR decisions on a person's privacy, there has to be some fig leaf of reasonable belief that some form of activity ongoing that the state had legislated against. If not that would hollow out to nothing the concept of privacy.

Fred Swanson

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ScouseMouse

I am aware revenue have an open warrant to enter places. Gardai need a court warrant, but don't know about them. Interesting though

Fred Swanson

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Victor

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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They have much greater rights over business premises than residential premises.

ScouseMouse

I once had an employment rights inspection and the inspector came into my business and flashed this card that said warrant. I let him in no problem, respect their work, but don't think council staff can do the same.

If a council worker knocks on someones door asking to inspect your property I assume you could tell them to leave as its private property. Just like the TV licence inspector. Of course, it would be easier to let them find nothing and go away, but would be interested in finding exactly what they can and cannot do.

If they have a serious concern, they would need a search warrant from a court.

Atlantic Dawn

They would have the same rights as an ordinary citizen to request access, no right at all.