Are you a landlord?

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act is due to come into force on 1 December 2022. If you’re a landlord, you need to know the implications for your residential occupancies in Wales.

What to do

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Review whether your properties are fit for human habitation (FFHH) under the new definition for standard of housing repair. This includes electrical safety testing, fitting working smoke alarms and CO detectors, and keeping the interior and exterior and utility supplies in good repair
• Replace your current tenancy or licence agreements with a written statement or ‘terms of occupation’ contract (within 6 months)
• Ensure any new residential occupancies are given the appropriate contracts
• Be aware that contract-holders will have increased occupancy rights 
• Give a longer notice period when you want to terminate a contract
• For new contracts, issue a written statement within 14 days of occupation

Key points

Here are a few of the definitions you’ll need to understand.

1. Tenants will be called Contract-holders under the new Act.

2. There are two types of landlord:

Community landlords (Local authority and registered social landlords)

Private landlords (All other landlords)

3. There are two types of contracts: 

Secure contract (for community landlords)

Standard contract (for the private rented sector)

4. There are four terms to be included in occupation contracts:

Key matters: Essential facts of the contract including the names of the parties and address of the property

Fundamental terms: Important aspects such as possession and repair procedures

Supplementary terms: Day-to-day matters such as a contract-holder’s obligation to notify you if the property will be empty for four weeks or more

Additional terms: Anything else, such as the permission to keep a pet

As with all legal matters, every situation is different and there is a lot more to it than that.

For more context, you might like to read (or re-read) our June article: Do you rent property in Wales?

Are you ready for 1 December? If not, we can help. Please click the button or give us a call on 01938 552545 and talk to Charlotte, Heather or Sian.