17.—(1) If a person, with intent to induce the Executive to believe, in connection with the exercise of its functions under this Part, that he or another person—
(a)is homeless or threatened with homelessness, or
(b)has a priority need, or
(c)did not become homeless or threatened with homelessness intentionally,
knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular, or knowingly withholds information which the Executive has reasonably required him to give in connection with the exercise of those functions, he commits an offence.
(2) If before an applicant receives notification of the Executive’s decision on his application there is any change of facts material to his case, he shall notify the Executive as soon as possible; and the Executive shall explain to every applicant, in ordinary language, the duty imposed on him by this paragraph and the effect of paragraph (3).
(3) A person who fails to comply with paragraph (2) commits an offence unless he shows that he was not given the explanation required by that paragraph or that he had some other reasonable excuse for non-compliance.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this Article is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.