Renting Homes Act to bring major changes to Welsh housing law

Climate Change Minister Julie James has announced her intention to implement the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 in six months, changing how homes are rented in Wales.

Under the new law, tenants and licensees will become ‘contract-holders’ with tenancy agreements replaced with ‘occupation contracts’.

Changes brought in by the Act will include ‘no-fault’ notice periods increasing from two to six months and removing the possibility of issuing a notice in the first six months, meaning all contract-holders will have a minimum of 12 months of security at the start of their tenancy.

All landlords will also be required to provide a written copy of the occupation contract to the tenant, setting out the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

Other changes include measures to ensure that properties are fit for human habitation, address the practise of ‘retaliatory eviction’, and introduce a consistent approach to eviction where antisocial behaviour and domestic violence occurs.

Climate Change Minister Julie James said: ‘This Act represents the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades. The Act will make it simpler and easier to rent a home in Wales, replacing various, complex pieces of existing legislation and case law with one clear legal framework.

‘When in place, contract-holders in Wales will have greater security of tenure than in any other part of the UK. The Welsh Government has also launched a national awareness campaign that will ensure both landlords and tenants are aware of the changes that will take effect from July 2022.’

The Act will be implemented from 15 July 2022 and will affect both social and private tenants.

In related news, leaseholders could find it easier and cheaper to buy the freehold of their building under new government proposals which enter the consultation process today.

Homeowners and the housing industry are being invited to give their views on proposals from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to allow more leaseholders in mixed-use buildings to take control and ownership of their building.

Photo by Jonny Gios