Lee Waters, Llanelli’s Member of the Senedd, has spoken of the benefits of a new Welsh Government law which came into force on 1 December.
The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 will replaces various, complex pieces of existing legislation and case law with one clear legal framework to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants.
Lee Waters said:
“This law brings new protections for renters and a clearer set of responsibilities for landlords. It directly affects the lives of one in three people who rent their home and makes renting in Llanelli fair and simple for everyone.”
Some of the main changes introduced are:
• All landlords being required to provide a written copy of the occupation contract to the tenant (called the ‘contract-holder’ in the legislation). This sets out the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
• ‘No-fault’ notice periods increasing from two months to six months. It will no longer be possible to issue a notice in the first six months, meaning all contract-holders will have a minimum 12 months of security at the start of their tenancy.
• A strengthened duty on landlords, to ensure the property they rent is fit for human habitation including the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and regular electrical safety testing.
• Addressing the practice of ‘retaliatory eviction’ (where a landlord serves notice on a tenant because they ask for repairs or complain about poor conditions).
• The introduction of a consistent approach across sectors to eviction where antisocial behaviour and domestic violence occurs.
The Senedd Member added:
“Everyone has the right to feel secure in their own home and to be able to plan for the future. With this new law in place, tenants will have greater peace of mind when renting.”
“There will also be clear benefits for landlords. Clearer and easier to understand contracts will reduce disputes and legal costs and the new regime will provide a better way for landlords to deal with abandoned properties.”
For information about how the new law will affect you go to: https://gov.wales/housing-law-changing-renting-homes
