Summary of Act
3.The Act amends the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (“the 2016 Act”) and the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019 (“the 2019 Act”).
4.It increases what the Act refers to as the security of occupation (also known as “security of tenure”) of a contract-holder under a standard occupation contract by amending the 2016 Act (see below for a summary of the relevant provisions of, and terminology used in, the 2016 Act).
5.In particular, the minimum period of notice that must be given by a landlord to end a standard occupation contract under a so-called “no-fault eviction” is increased from 2 months to 6 months, and provision is made to restrict the use of certain notices to particular descriptions of standard occupation contract. Amendments are also made to provisions of the 2016 Act that deal with when particular notices can be given and to apply restrictions on the giving of particular notices when there has been a breach of certain statutory requirements.
6.Provision is made to restrict the circumstances in which a periodic standard contract can be varied by the landlord, and to sever the connection between giving notice to vary the contract, and giving notice seeking possession.
7.Under the Act, people living in a rented home in Wales under a standard occupation contract will generally have a minimum of 12 months’ security of occupation.
8.The Act also amends the 2019 Act so that, in certain circumstances, the payment of a service charge, and payment for a replacement written statement of an occupation contract, are permitted payments for the purposes of the 2019 Act. Amendments are also made to the 2019 Act pending the implementation of the 2016 Act.