Are you ready for the 1st December?
Are you ready for 1st December? And no, we're not talking Christmas decorations. If you're a landlord this blog is for you. As of the 1st December 2022, the Renting Homes Wales Act will come into place. It is the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades, we've summarised what impact the new legislation is likely to have on your property.
What is the Renting Homes Wales Act all about?
The Renting Homes Wales Act is the single biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades and it comes into force on 1st December 2022. The legislation, originally planned for July 2022 but delayed, is designed to ‘simplify renting’ for both landlords and tenants. The act itself will see changes to tenancy agreements, eviction notices, safety requirements and hopes to clarify rights and responsibilities and increase protection for tenants. In this blog, we’ve summarised and simplified the three main changes that we feel will have the biggest impact on landlords.
Notice Periods Extended (from Landlords to Tenants)
The pandemic saw the notice periods provided to tenants in England and Wales extended to six months from the original two month notice period. Then for a short time post-pandemic the Welsh Government reverted back to the original two-monthly notice periods and now the decision has been made that six month notice periods will be the new norm.
From 1st December, tenants will be entitled to six months notice with the hope of providing people in the private rented sector (PRS) with more security and to prevent homelessness. But, tenants will still be able to give the landlord one months notice at the end of a fixed term agreement or during a periodic agreement.
At Alexanders we take care of every step of property and tenancy management so we make sure serving notices correctly for our clients, giving you one less thing to worry about.
The ability to serve a Section 8 eviction notice if a tenant is in serious breach of lease still remains, that is not changing. Serving Section 8 is complex and involves working with the court system so is usually better handled by a professional and we’re very happy to help.
Tenancy Agreements will be known Occupation Contracts from now on.
With the new act come changes in some of the current terminology. Tenancy Agreements will now be known as 'Occupation Contracts' and a huge emphasis on simple language and transparency.
The ‘model’ occupation contract will be used by all landlord and agents across the country after 1st December making it far easier for tenants to understand their rights and obligations regardless of who they rent from. In the past each landlord or agent would create their own form of tenancy agreement but the new 'model' contract will become a blanket agreement across the sector.
Homes must be “Fit For Human Habitation”
The final notable change looks at the condition of rental properties and ensuring there are 'fit for human habitation' (FFHH). The majority of landlords and agents will already be complying with the measures set out in this section of the act and ensuring their rental properties are in a suitable condition.
Part of the act focuses on the requirement to keep the structure and exterior of the property in repair and keep installations for the supply of water, gas or electricity, for sanitation, for space heating, and hot water in repair and proper working order. This particular part of the act relates to practices that at we already work to as do the vast majority of landlords so most for most people this will be business as usual but please do get in touch if you need any advice.
In long and short of it all….
What do you really need to know?
- If you would like to serve a tenant notice, the notice period will be six months.
- Tenancy Agreements will now be Occupation Contracts and there is a template that all landlords and letting agents will use.
- There will be very specific guidelines in terms of property condition requirements and what consists 'fit for human habitation'.
How Can Alexanders Help?
At Alexanders we’re already working to the standards and practices that’ll become law next month, we study the ins-and-outs of property legislation so you don't have to. Of course, we recommend familiarising yourself with the new legislation but we are always here to help and advise. We know better than anyone that pages, upon pages of government terminology and clauses can be daunting (we've been through it) and so we're here to tell you what you need to know in the least painful way possible.
If you'd like to discuss the Renting Homes Wales Act or any other aspect of property letting you can contact us via our social media pages, on our phones, emails or pop in and chat. We're in it together.