The Tenancy Trail

Some notes on Welsh contracts:

The law changed in Wales on 1 December 2022 when the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force.  One purpose of this legislation was to end the difference between tenancies and licenses.  So, although the act cannot change a tenancy into a license or a license into a tenancy, they are both treated almost identically under the new rules.

Partly for this reason, the act brought in new terminology as follows:

• Occupation contract: tenancy or license
• Written statement (of occupation contract); Tenancy or license agreement
• Dwelling (sometimes referred to as ‘home’): the property being let
• Contract holder: tenant or licensee
• Occupation date: the date the contract starts
• Term: clause or section in the written statement

Although the words ‘landlord’ and ‘contract holder’ (singular) are usually used here, there is normally no difference if there is more than one landlord or contract holder.

Sometimes, this tenancy trail uses rather formal wording – if so, this will be because this is the wording prescribed in an act of Parliament.

If your situation does not fall precisely into one of the categories set out in the tenancy trail, you should seek legal advice. There are sometimes ‘borderline’ situations which cannot easily be categorised.  For example, you can use our  Telephone Advice service, or if you are a Landlord Law member, ask a question in the forum.

The ‘back’ button may not always take you to the exact last page you visited – however, it will always take you to an appropriate point back up the tenancy trail.