New legislation for landlords and tenants in Wales – what you need to know

Who’s affected by these changes?

All social and private landlords and tenants will see some changes.

Landlords, both private and social, will need to comply with the new law and make the necessary changes to their property and paperwork, even if they rent the property through an agent or a management company.

Tenants (private and social) can expect to see changes too, from the way their contracts are provided and how their homes are maintained to how they communicate with their landlords.

Please note that these changes do not apply in England or the rest of the UK.

What does the new law mean for me?

Tenants

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

For contract-holders this will include:

• 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;
• 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.
• Enhanced safety measures, which will include electrical safety testing and ensuring working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted.
• Abandoned properties can be repossessed 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.

Guidance for tenants Guidance for landlords

Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance regarding rights and responsibilities and is not formal legal advice as no lawyer-client relationship has been created. Note that the information was accurate at the time of publication but laws may have since changed.