Commentary on Sections Part 1 Regulation of Private Rented Housing Section 3 – Licensing authority
5.The Welsh Ministers are required to designate a licensing authority for the purposes of Part 1 of the Act; the licensing authority being the person or body carrying out the functions of maintaining a register, administering landlord registrations and granting agent and landlord licences in line with Part 1 . They may designate one person to act as the licensing authority for the whole of Wales. Alternatively, different persons can be designated to act as licensing authorities for different areas of Wales provided that, when taken together, all of the areas in question cover the whole of Wales. There must not be more than one licensing authority for any one area.
6.Only a person who carries out public functions wholly or mainly in relation to Wales can be designated as a licensing authority. This includes the Welsh Ministers or a public body (which may include a local housing authority) but not Ministers of the UK Government.
7.The Welsh Ministers can make any provision they consider necessary or expedient when making an order designating a person as a licensing authority.  Prior to making the order, the Welsh Ministers must consult any person they propose to designate and any other persons they consider appropriate, such as the local housing authority or authorities within the area covered by the proposed licensing authority.