Julie James, Minister for Climate Change
The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 comes into force on 1 December 2022. The Act will improve security of tenure for renters by, amongst other things, increasing the period of notice that a landlord must give when seeking repossession of their property in instances where the renter is not at fault. The longer notice period of six months applies only to those occupation contracts that are agreed on or after the date the Act comes into force. However, I am today commencing a consultation on a proposal to apply six-month notice periods to existing tenancies that convert to occupation contracts under the Act. It is proposed that this change takes effect six months after the Act comes into force in order to allow landlords and others sufficient time to make any changes necessary to prepare for its implementation.
If the proposal is implemented, it will serve to equalise the rights of existing and future renters and help to ensure that the benefits of improved security of tenure are available to all.
The consultation will run until 24 October 2022 and I would welcome responses from anyone with an interest in this important matter.