Independent since 1987 your Award Winning MGY Lettings team are here to help; our mission is to make our landlords feel right at home and know their property portfolio is in safe hands with MGY. Here is an overview of the about the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, covering Important information for Landlords in Wales.
The Act, which was first passed six years ago, represents the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades. It increases protection for tenants and contract-holders through the introduction of a single, clear framework. Welsh Government has announced that the Renting Homes Wales Act will come into force on July 15, 2022. This legislation fundamentally changes how landlords operate in Wales, with all PRS tenancies replaced by ‘occupation contracts’ with new required terms and rules around repossession. In just 3 months’ time Wales will have a largely self-contained set of laws that will share similarities with England. As a landlord with properties in Wales you need to be aware of the changes and update your properties and their documents accordingly. Here are the key elements of the Act for your information:
Tenancy Agreements: On July 15, 2022, existing tenancies will be converted into the new standard occupation contracts where the tenant becomes a ‘contract holder’ this includes Occupation contracts and Ending occupation contracts.
Safety Requirements: New Fitness for Human Habitation Requirements requires that each property can provide a satisfactory electrical installation condition report (EICR), has mains-wired interlinked smoke alarms fitted on every floor of the property, and carbon monoxide alarms fitted in every room with a gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliance. More generally, the landlord will also have an obligation to keep the property in a state that is fit for human habitation based on several key hazards.
Key Dates: For tenancies that turn into occupation contracts, landlords have a year to comply with the electrical safety and smoke alarm requirements, giving them until July 15, 2023, to comply. Carbon monoxide alarms must be fitted from July 15, 2022.
Prohibitions On Notice: Several new regulations will restrict the use of possession notices unless the landlord has performed certain tasks.
Questions? You may have several questions about the landlord changes coming in July 2022? If you would like to have a face-to-face meeting with one of our lettings consultants, please feel free to contact our award winning team at any of our branches below:
- Radyr: 02920 842124 rady@mgy.co.uk
- Cardiff Bay: 02920 465466 bay@mgy.co.uk
- Birchgrove: 02920 529026 birchgrove@mgy.co.uk
- Pontcanna: 02920 397152 pontcanna@mgy.co.uk
- Whitchurch: 02922 745848 whitchurch@mgy.co.uk
Welsh Government has produced some supplementary legislation and guidance on the changes for landlords and tenants, you can find out more by clicking here: https://gov.wales/landlords-housing-law-changing-renting-homes
We are here to support you through this process, over the coming weeks we will update you on each specific element on the Renting Homes Wales Act through our social media channels and our website so you can be informed and aware of the changes in order to update your properties and documents accordingly.
