Acts on acids of short chain lengths, C2?to C4, with inversion of configuration at C-2. (see also EC?3.8.1.2, (S)-2-haloacid dehalogenase, EC?3.8.1.10, 2-haloacid dehalogenase (configuration-inverting) and EC?3.8.1.11, 2-haloacid dehalogenase (configuration-retaining)).