Welsh landlords & tenants seek to adjust to new legislation

Effective since 1st December 2022, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act claims its aims are to improve the rental process and has replaced various pieces of legislation with a new framework that affects both private and social sectors of the rental market.

New procedures relating to everything from issuing contracts and serving notice, to property safety and maintenance will now need to be followed and protocol /systems have been required to change.

Local estate agents & auctioneers Williams & Goodwin The Property People who also trade as All Wales Auction have been established as lettings agents covering Anglesey & Gwynedd for many years, they are members of industry governing body Property Mark ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) and have in addition to winning awards for their service in the lettings sector also been selected as the best independent agents in Gwynedd & Anglesey by Urdd y Gweithwyr Eiddo Proffesiynol.

Tim Goodwin, director at Williams & Goodwin commented:

“One of the major changes is what people and tenancies are now called. Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) are no longer in use. We now have Standard Occupation Contracts between landlords and contract-holders (previously known as tenants). Contract holders must also now be given a written statement of the contract within fixed timeframes of the occupation date”.

All existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies have automatically ‘converted’ to a standard occupation contract with landlords or their agents having a set time to comply and issue a new written statement for converted contracts.

Some of the new features/changes include:

• Electrical inspection and EICR every five years.
• Mains-powered interlinked smoke alarms on every floor.
• Requirements for carbon monoxide alarms.
• Changes relating to notice periods.
  • The minimum notice period for any breach of contract is one month.
  • Shorter notice period in the case of rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
  • Abandonment repossession claims no longer requiring a court order.
• No fault notices can no longer be issued within the first six months of the contract.
• New minimum notice period of six-months.
• Break clauses can only be added to fixed-term contracts of two years or more and cannot be used in the first 18 months of occupation.

Greg Horsman, Manager of Residential Lettings at Williams & Goodwin added:

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act is aimed to make the rental process in Wales safer and more stable for all concerned. We trust that our experience and knowledge will ensure a smooth transition for our customers and would welcome anyone who may wish to appoint an agent to assist them to contact our office for an initial informal discussion.

Tim Goodwin concluded:

The Welsh Government aim for this new version of renting to be easier and simplify the process to add additional tenants to a contract – or to remove them. The repair obligations of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 have now been replaced with Part 4 of the Renting (Homes) Wales Act 2016. This clarifies that landlords are responsible for the safety and repair of the property. Importantly, Contract Holders (tenants) have a general duty to care for their homes. Landlords can also add supplementary terms relating to the specific care of the property.

For more information of renting a home in Anglesey or Gwynedd please call our team on 01248 72 40 40