Renting residential property in Wales underwent a massive legislative revolution on 1 December 2022 (the official commencement date), when the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 officially came into force. This Act entirely replaced the old system of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), creating a unique legal framework distinct from England and the rest of the UK.

In Wales, tenants are now legally referred to as Contract-Holders, and tenancy agreements are now Occupation Contracts. Furthermore, all private landlords must be registered and licensed through Rent Smart Wales under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

Occupation Contracts and Written Statements

The traditional AST no longer exists in Wales. Private landlords must now issue a Standard Occupation Contract.

• The Written Statement: Landlords are legally obligated to provide the contract-holder with a "Written Statement" of the occupation contract within 14 days of the move-in date (pursuant to Section 31 of the 2016 Act). Failure to provide this statement on time can result in financial penalties for the landlord, equivalent to a day's rent for every day it is late (up to two months).

See our Lease RequirementsPreview unavailable guide.

Rent Smart Wales Registration

Before a landlord can legally rent a property in Wales, they must register themselves and the property with Rent Smart Wales. If the landlord intends to manage the property themselves (rather than using an agent), they must also undergo training to obtain a central Licence as required by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. An unlicensed landlord cannot legally serve a no-fault eviction notice.

Eviction and Security of Tenure

Wales currently possesses very strong security of tenure for private renters.

• No-Fault Evictions: Landlords can issue a 'no-fault' eviction notice under Section 173 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. This requires providing the contract-holder with at least 6 months' notice, and it cannot be served within the first 6 months of the contract.
• Eviction with Cause: If a contract-holder falls into serious rent arrears (usually two months' worth) or engages in anti-social behavior, the landlord can serve a possession notice with a much shorter timeline (often one month or less).

See our Eviction ProcessPreview unavailable guide.

Security Deposits and Fees

• Holding Deposits: Capped at one week's rent and must be refunded within 7 days unless a contract is signed.
• Security Deposits: There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit under the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019. However, the deposit must be protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receipt.
• Late Fees: Highly restricted by the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019. Landlords can only charge a late fee if the rent is more than 7 days late, and the fee is capped at an annual percentage rate of 3% above the Bank of England base rate.

See our Security DepositsPreview unavailable and Late FeesPreview unavailable guides.

Fitness for Human Habitation (FFHH)

Landlords have a strict legal duty under Section 91 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 to ensure the property is Fit for Human Habitation (FFHH) at the start of and throughout the contract. This includes mandatory requirements:

• A valid Gas Safety Certificate.
• An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) valid within the last 5 years.
• Functioning smoke alarms on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a gas/oil appliance. If a landlord fails to meet FFHH standards, they are barred from serving a no-fault eviction notice under Section 173 or using a landlord's break clause under Section 194 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.

See our Maintenance ObligationsPreview unavailable guide.

Rent Increases

There is no strict rent control (rent capping) in Wales for private rentals. Landlords can increase the rent once every 12 months, provided they issue the mandatory official prescribed form RHW12 (Notice of Variation of Rent) giving the contract-holder at least two months' notice. Failure to use RHW12 renders the increase invalid.

See our Rent IncreasesPreview unavailable guide.

How Landager Helps Landlords in Wales

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act makes compliance incredibly rigid; missing a 14-day deadline for a Written Statement or a 30-day deadline for deposit protection carries severe financial penalties. Landager automates these specific Welsh compliance workflows. Our system tracks Rent Smart Wales licence expirations, utilizes the official Standard Occupation Contract templates, and automatically issues the required prescribed information packets to your contract-holders the moment they move in, keeping your portfolio perfectly legal.