Wales - Renting Homes Law Change announced

Legislation relating to Renting Homes in Wales which was first passed in 2016, was implemented to increase protection for tenants

It has been announced that the Renting Homes (Wales) Act will be implemented from 15 July 2022.

There will be two new “occupation” contracts that are to replace the existing tenancy and licence agreements. These are:

• a secure contract: the default contract issued by ‘community landlords’ (local authorities and registered social landlords); and;

• a standard contract: the default contract for use by private landlords (all landlords other than community landlords)

Landlords will also be required to issue a written statement of the occupation contract to the contract-holder which will include all the relevant contractual terms:

• fundamental terms cover the most important aspects of the contract, including the possession procedures and landlord’s obligations regarding repairs.

• supplementary terms deal with the day-to-day matters applying to the occupation contract such as the requirement to pay rent on time or maintain a garden.

• additional terms address specifically agreed matters

The Welsh Assembly will also introduce a six-month notice period to end contracts where the ‘tenant” is not at fault, and landlord will be unable to issue such possession notices during the first six months of occupation therefore giving ‘tenants’ a minimum one year of security from their move-in date.

Tenants will also be protected from retaliatory evictions under the Act.

Click on the link for further information on The Renting Homes Law Change