Renting Homes (Wales) Act Postponed

In January 2022 the Welsh Government announced that the implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 would be introduced into law on the 15^th of July 2022. This is now, however, not going to happen as communicated.

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change announced on the 30^th of May that implementation would be delayed until the 1^st of December 2022 in an announcement:

“In January I announced my intention to bring into force the provisions of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 on 15 July 2022.

However, I have over recent months received representations from landlords, and particularly social landlords, who have requested that implementation of the Act be delayed.  As such, and in the light of the unprecedented pressures they face, including Covid recovery and supporting those who are fleeing the war in Ukraine, I have decided to postpone implementation of the Act until 1st December 2022.  This will allow more time for landlords to complete the necessary preparations ahead of implementation. Wholesale reform of the type that the Renting Homes (Wales) Act is bringing about happens only very rarely – perhaps once in a generation.  I want to do all I can to ensure landlords have adequate time to make the necessary preparations to comply with the requirements of the Act.

I appreciate that this delay, relatively short though it is, will be a source of frustration to some of our partners, especially those who are anxious to see the enhanced protections for tenants the Act will deliver.

I share those frustrations, but I recognise that preparing new occupation contracts and ensuring that properties meet the fitness standards set out in the legislation are major undertakings, particularly for those landlords responsible for a large number of properties and tenants.  I also accept that landlords from both private and public sectors, as well as letting agents and other stakeholders, would benefit from additional time to familiarise themselves with the various pieces of subordinate legislation – the final tranche of which are due to be made in July – before commencement.”

Renting Homes (Wales) Act changes

Given the statement and the delays, it is fair to say that the size and scope of the changes are large, but what are they? In summary:

• Tenancy agreements will be replaced with occupancy contracts and tenants will be called contract holders.
• All contracts must follow a similar format:
  • Key matters
  • Fundamental terms
  • Supplementary terms
  • Additional terms
• This contract will be in the form of a written statement containing all the terms of the contract and must be provided within 14 days of the contract starting
• No fault evictions must have a 6 month notice period and cannot be served in the first 6 months of the contract, effectively making the minimum term 12 months. No fault notices cannot be given unless the landlord is registered and licenced with Rent Smart and has complied with deposit protection rules
• Where the contract holder is in breach of the contract a minimum of 1 month’s notice must be given
• Landlord break clauses can only be used in contracts where there is a fixed term of 2 years or more and cannot be used within the first 18 months
• All properties must be fit for human habitation and if they are not, no rent is payable for the period during which the property is uncompliant
• There will be enhanced succession rights to the contract with a primary and reserve successor
• If the property is abandoned, a landlord will be able to repossess the property without a court order

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 is a significant piece of legislation which far reaching implications on the private rented sector in Wales. This delay to implementation is a recognition of that and aims to give landlords, their agents and tenants time to prepare to ensure they can meet the new requirements.