The Landlord Law Wales Page
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On 1 December 2022 the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force. As you can see from the date of the act, this has been a long time coming!
It has created a massive split between English and Welsh Law.
All our content on the new Welsh law, and any other Wales-only items, can be found linked from this page. So if your property is in Wales, this is the place to come.  If you find anything we have missed, let us know either in the green button messenger or on the forum and we look to add it for you.
We are dividing the content into the same ‘topics’ as we have done for the main site, with an extra section on terminology. As follows:
The new housing legislation has now come into force in Wales with effect from 1 December 2022.
Terminology & Government Documents
The Welsh legislation applies to both tenancies and licenses and so we need to use different terminology – as follows:
Welsh v. English terminology
- Occupation contract:Â tenancy or license
- Written statement (of occupation contract); Tenancy or license agreement
- Dwelling (sometimes referred to as ‘home’): the property being letÂ
- Contract holder: tenant or licensee
- Occupation date: the date the contract starts
- Term: clause or section in the written statement
- Converted contract – a contract which existed prior to 1 December 2022 as a tenancy or license
- Substitute contract – where a new contract has been signed for a converted contract.
See more definitions in our terminology FAQ.
We have a separate page which has links to the Welsh legislation and regulations and links to Government Guidance documents.
Documents and Forms
The Documents and Forms page for Wales-only items
The Landlord Law Occupation Contracts.
The Conversion Contracts Page.
For links to the official forms, and the various landlord law forms see the Documents and Forms page linked above.
The Occupation Contracts page linked above has links to other relevant pages such as articles and forms.
Other forms
Note that many of the forms on our main documents and forms page will still be relevant for Welsh users. We are checking the test of our content and in due course will add the English flag for those which are England only.
Checklists
These are the standard Landlord Law checklists adapted for use in Wales. Â
Occupation Types
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What different contract types are there for rented property in Wales?
- What happens at the end of a fixed term contract in Wales?
- When is a tenancy or license in Wales not an ‘occupation contract’ under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016?
- What are the rules that apply to joint contract holders in Wales?
- How are residential licenses dealt with under the Welsh legislation?
About letting agents
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Consumer Law
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Do I have to tell anyone or get permission before I let my property? Wales
- What is a landlords repudiatory breach which allows the contract holder to end their contract?
- What rules apply when the landlords’ consent is required (Wales)?
- What are the tenants rights to occupy without interference (Wales)?
- What sorts of things will be considered ‘reasonable reasons’ for refusing permission for tenants requests?
Shared properties and HMOs
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Checks and rental payments
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What payments and fees am I entitled to charge my tenant? Wales
- What are prohibited payments and what are the penalties? Wales
- What are the special rules about providing details of the landlord’s address? Wales
- How can I increase my Contract Holder’s Rent by the notice procedure?
- What happens if a landlord renting property in Wales is not properly licensed
- What penalties apply if you do not comply with the rules about written statements of occupation contracts in Wales?
Deposits
Written statements of occupation contracts
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Do adult children need to be named on the occupation contract? Wales
- What are the special rules about providing details of the landlord’s address? Wales
- What are the rules about landlords break clauses in Wales?
- What are fundamental, supplementary and additional terms in Welsh occupation contracts?
- What penalties apply if you do not comply with the rules about written statements of occupation contracts in Wales?
- When do Welsh Occupation Contracts become unenforceable?
- Do Welsh written statements of occupation contracts need to be signed by the contract holders?
- What are the rules about varying the terms of Welsh occupation contracts?
- What other paperwork needs to be served on contract holders with their written statement?
- For Welsh properties – should you use a fixed term or a periodic contract?
- What are the rules about amending Welsh occupation contracts?
- When do landlords need to provide a written statement of occupation contract (Wales)
The Property Condition
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Ending Occupation Contracts
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What happens if a contract holder leaves things behind after he goes?
- What happens at the end of a fixed term contract in Wales?
- What is a landlords repudiatory breach which allows the contract holder to end their contract?
- What are the sucession rules for occupation contracts in Wales?
- What are the rules for dealing with abandoned dwellings in Wales?
- What rules apply in Wales regarding the service of notices and other documents?
- What are the rules about landlords break clauses in Wales?
- What are the rules for no fault possession claims in Wales?
- In Wales what are the Estate Management grounds for possession?
- Ending contracts in Wales due to the contract holders breach of contract
- What are the various rules and time limits for bringing possession proceedings in Wales?
- What are the rules about contract holders notices to end their contract?
Court Proceedings
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What rules apply in Wales regarding the service of notices and other documents?
- What are the rules for no fault possession claims in Wales?
- Wales – when do occupation contracts actually end if a Court Order for possession has been made?
- When can contract holders in Wales defend no fault evictions by claiming it is a retaliatory claim?
- What are the rules in Wales for evictions based on Rent Arrears?
- In Wales what are the Estate Management grounds for possession?
- Ending contracts in Wales due to the contract holders breach of contract
- Reasonableness when dealing with discretionary grounds for possession in Wales
- What are the various rules and time limits for bringing possession proceedings in Wales?
- What are the rules about contract holders notices to end their contract?
