Landlord Register Wales: What Is It And How Does It Work?

If you’re a new landlord in Wales, and are thinking of investing in buy-to-let property in the country – you need to know the rules about registration. Whether you’re looking at letting a home in the North Wales areas of Holyhead, Llangefni, Menai Bridge or Bangor in Anglesey & Gwynedd, we look at everything you need to know about the Wales landlord register.

What is the landlord register in Wales?

The key thing about the landlord register Wales is that registration is compulsory. Private landlords across Wales need to register with Rent Smart Wales. Rent Smart Wales is a Welsh government organisation that helps landlords comply with the obligations and requirements of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and offers advice on providing safe and healthy homes for tenants.

How does landlord registration work?

Anyone renting out property in Wales needs to register by going to the Rent Smart Wales website and creating an account. You will need to pay a fee and provide your own personal details plus details of the property and any letting or management agency you use.

Who needs to register as a landlord?

Landlords needs to complete the registration themselves – so, if you use a letting agent, you can’t ask them to do this for you. This is because you, as the landlord, need to verify that the information is complete and accurate. You will be responsible for your record on the register.

The landlord could be one person, or more than one, if the property is jointly owned. However, only one landlord can register on behalf of all joint owners. They are known as the lead landlord.

For properties owned by a company, charity or trust, details for that organisation need to be provided including the company or charity’s registration numbers.

Exemptions to landlord registration

There are some exemptions to registering including:

• Owner occupiers taking in lodgers who share their facilities.
• Registered social landlords in Wales.
• Residential dwellings which are part of an agricultural agreement.
• Commercial lets used in conjunction with running a business.
• Properties rented on a ‘licence’ such as university-owned accommodation.
• Properties which are holiday lets.
• Accommodation, which is not a permanent structure – e.g. some mobile homes, houseboats or static caravans – however, these properties may not qualify for exemption, so get advice.

How to join the Wales landlord register

Visit the Rent Smart Wales website to read more about the process and create an account.

Complete the registration form which will ask for your personal and contact details plus those of any joint owners of the property and relevant registration details for properties owned by companies, charities or trusts.

You’ll need to supply the address of each property you are renting out and details of your letting or managing agent, if you have one.

You’ll need to pay your fee by debit or credit card – see below.

You can also visit the Rent Smart Wales website to find out about renewing an existing registration or to check that a registration is valid.

How much does it cost to join the landlord register?

The cheapest way to register is online using the Rent Smart Wales website. However, you can also submit a paper registration.

To qualify for the cheaper renewal rate, you need to apply within an 84-day-period before the registration expires. If you allow your registration to expire you will need to pay the higher fee.

What is the fine for not registering as a landlord in Wales?

If you don’t follow the landlord register Wales rules, you may receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £150. In addition, you could face prosecution and additional fines. You may also find it harder to regain possession of the property if you need to.

How long does landlord registration last?

Landlord registration in Wales lasts for five years. When your five years is up, you’ll need to renew your registration for another five years.

Find out more

Visit the Rent Smart Wales website to read more, register and find out about renewing your registration.

f you are a new landlord in Anglesey & Gwynedd, concerned about all the obligations that come with your role, talk to us. With all our experience of letting homes in North Wales, we’d be happy to talk you through the processes involved and tell you more about our services for landlords.

Contact details: 01248 75 40 40 or lettings@tppuk.com