Landlords in Wales forced to give 6 months’ notice

Last minute changes to the housing eviction law in Wales will see more landlords having to give their tenants six months’ notice.

That’s a change from the rules which enable a landlord to hand a tenant with a periodic tenancy just two months’ notice without giving a reason.

But now the Welsh Government has expanded the plans that are due to come into force on 1 December for new tenancies and will now affect more tenants.

The government has admitted that its plans had left many renters at risk of being handed a short notice period for years to come.

The new eviction extension will become law next June – six months after it affects new tenants – and will now include renters on ‘rolling tenancies’.

‘Welsh Government continues to dither’

Ben Beadle, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “With less than two months until the Renting Homes Wales Act is due to come into force, the Welsh Government continues to dither and second guess its own reforms, before they are even implemented.

“It is unsurprising that landlords struggle to have confidence in the new rules when ministers seem equally unsure about their ability to deliver.

“The Government’s stance towards its own new laws has been characterised by last minute changes and demonstrate a flagrant disregard for landlords, and the role they can play in delivering a private rented sector which works in the interests of all.”

He added: “The Welsh Government needs to concentrate on how it can work with landlords to solve the supply crisis which continues to negatively impact the PRS.

“It needs to listen to the sector, make a sensible decision and stick to it.”

Extended notice periods could see a ‘wave of evictions’

However, one charity has expressed its fears that the delay in introducing extended notice periods could see a ‘wave of evictions’ from private rental homes.

Shelter Cymru says that the law for new tenants should be the same as for those on a rolling contract.

They say it can be difficult for a tenant who has an eviction notice to find a new home.

The new law is part of the delayed Renting Homes regulation that gives tenants a minimum of one year to live in their rental property. Landlords with a new tenancy would have to wait six months before they can hand the tenant an eviction notice and that would be for another six months.