The way you rent your home is changing… for tenants and landlords.

The Renting Homes Act is the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades.

From 1st December 2022 the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 will change the way all landlords in Wales rent their properties – including ateb. It will improve how we rent, manage, and live in rented homes in Wales.

Download the easy read leaflet here.

Who is affected by the new law?

All ateb tenants will see some changes:

  • in the way their contracts are provided
  • in the way their homes are maintained
  • how they communicate with their landlords

ateb will need to:

  • comply with the new law
  • make the necessary updates to their properties and paperwork
What does the new law mean for me?

Tenants

Under the new law, tenants and licensees will become ‘contract-holders’. Tenancy agreements will be replaced with ‘occupation contracts’.

The new law will make renting easier and provide greater security.

For contract-holders this will mean:

  • 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
  • improved succession rights, these set out who has a right to continue to live in a dwelling, for example after the current tenant dies
  • 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.
  • Ensuring homes are fit for human habitation (FFHH). This 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?

We want this transition to be as smooth as possible for everyone, and it is important you know what the changes mean for you. Between now and December we will regularly update you on the changes that you can expect.

Find out more now about how the new law will affect you.

Tenants

https://gov.wales/tenants-housing-law-changing-renting-homes

Landlords

https://gov.wales/landlords-housing-law-changing-renting-homes

Published: 25/04/2022