The way you rent has changed… for tenants and landlords.

The Renting Homes Act is the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades.

On 1 December 2022 the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 changed the way all landlords in Wales rent their properties, improving how we rent, manage, and live in rented homes in Wales.

Who is affected by the new law?

All social and private tenants will see some changes:

• in the way their contracts are provided
• in the way their homes are maintained
• to how they communicate with their landlords

All social and private landlords, including those who rent their properties through management companies or agents, will need to:

• comply with the new law
• make the necessary updates to their properties and paperwork

What does the new law mean for me?

Tenants

Under the new law, tenants and licencees are now known as 'contract-holders'. Tenancy agreements have been replaced with 'occupation contracts'.

The new law will make renting easier and provide greater security.

For contract-holders this will mean:

• receiving a written contract setting out your rights and responsibilities
• an increase in the ‘no fault’ notice period from two to six months
• greater protection from eviction
• improved succession rights, these set out who has a right to continue to live in a dwelling, for example after the current tenant dies
• more flexible arrangements for joint contract-holders, making it easier to add or remove others to an occupation contract

Landlords

For landlords this will mean:

• A simpler system, with two types of contract: ‘Secure’ for the social rented sector and ‘Standard’ for the private rented sector.
• Ensuring homes are fit for human habitation (FFHH). This will include, electrical safety testing and ensuring working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted.
• Abandoned properties can be repossesed without needing a court order.

What should I do next?

Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant it is important you know what the changes mean for you.

Find out more now about how the new law will affect you.