July date for Renting Homes (Wales) Act

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 will at last come into force this year.

The Welsh Government has confirmed the legislation, which will fundamentally change how landlords in Wales operate, will be brought in on July 15.

Among the changes are the introduction of ‘standard occupation contracts’ with new terms, the use of alternative notices to end a tenancy and new safety requirements. 

Chris Norris, Director of Policy & Campaigns at the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “With the Welsh Government now moving forward with its plans to implement the Renting Homes Wales Act, there is still a pressing need for more clarity as to what the supporting framework of the Act looks like.

“The extent of landlords’ future obligations under this legislation also underlines how crucial it is that existing legislation be made fit for purpose before new regulations are introduced.

“While we welcome the introduction of the Act, it is vital that the supporting legislation is fit for purpose and scrutinised sufficiently. In particular, the occupation contract terms, which all landlords must use, needs to improve significantly from its original consultation draft.

“These important steps must be taken before more complex regulations are introduced by the Welsh Government over the course of this year”.

To read more about how the Renting Homes (Wales) Act will impact landlords click here.