11^th March 2022

Landlords and tenants will be affected by new legislation on the way properties in Wales will be rented in 2022.  The Renting Homes Wales Act will go live on 15th July 2022 and will bring about significant changes to the way landlords can evict tenants, issue tenancy contracts, and manage their properties.

Notice period

While previously the minimum notice period to vacate a property was two months, when the new law comes into place landlords will be legally required to give tenants six months’ notice if they are required to vacate a property.

Landlords will no longer be able to give a “no fault” eviction notice until their tenants have been in the property for a minimum of six months.

This means that tenants will effectively have a minimum 12-month contract in a property in Wales instead of the previous minimum six-month contract.

New joint tenancy rules

Joint tenants can be added or removed from occupation contracts without the need to end one contract and start another. This will make managing joint contracts easier and help those experiencing domestic abuse by enabling the perpetrator to be targeted for eviction.

Repairs and conditions of rented properties

As is currently the case, Landlords must ensure the property they rent is fit for human habitation including the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, electrical and Gas safety testing.

Landlords must also maintain the structure and exterior of the property and ensure installations for the supply of water, gas and electricity are all in good repair. Ensure heating, and hot water systems are in good working order.

What does this mean for landlords?

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 drastically changes renting in Wales for landlords and they will need to make sure they comply with all the necessary changes. This will involve:

• coverting existing statutory periodic tenancy agreements to periodic standard occupation contracts.
• Issuing the tenant with a “written statement “ of the contract within 6 months from the date of implementation.
• complying with the requirements on key terms to be included in the new contracts; being aware of the new no fault eviction notices (and the notice period they entail) ensuring their rented property is fit for human habitation and that they maintain the property in good repair
• not to evict contract holders who complain about the state of repair in their property
• understanding the new laws on joint contract holders
• honouring any succession rights if a contract holder dies
• understanding the new procedure for recovering abandoned property

We can advise landlords in Wales on all these matters, and we will be in contact with all our landlords who rent a property in Wales to ensure that their tenancy contracts are updated and that you understand your new legal obligations. 

If you have any questions about how this might affect you as a landlord or tenant, please contact our lettings team on lettings@matthewsofchester.com or call 01244 346226.