Renting Homes (Wales) Act harms rental market – NRLA

Nearly half of landlords in Wales (47%) believe the Renting Homes (Wales) Act has been detrimental to the private rented sector, according to a new survey.

Data from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) reveal that more landlords view the Renting Homes (Wales) Act as harmful to the sector than beneficial.

The news comes ahead of the Senedd elections in May.

Landlords in Wales have faced a period of significant adjustment

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act came into force on 1 December 2022, replacing assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) with new occupation contracts and introducing a series of major reforms, including extending notice periods for ‘no-fault’ evictions from two months to six months.

However, the act has caused chaos in the rental market with the NRLA survey showing 47% of landlords view the legislation as either ‘extremely’ or ‘somewhat’ detrimental to the sector, while just 28% consider it beneficial.

Meera Chindooroy, deputy director of campaigns, public affairs and policy, said on its website: “Landlords in Wales have faced a period of significant adjustment since the introduction of the Renting Homes Act.

“As we look ahead to the Senedd elections in May, it’s important the next Welsh government continues to maintain the changes in the Act, to ensure a consistent legislative environment which allows landlords to plan and invest with confidence.”

Greater strain on landlords and councils

The news comes ahead of the Senedd elections and the Welsh Homelessness Bill, which is set to receive Royal Assent.

As previously reported by Property118, the NRLA has warned the Welsh Homelessness Bill will put greater strain on landlords and local authorities.

The bill brings major changes by scrapping the ‘intentionality test’, extending the homelessness risk period from 56 days to six months, and adding a ‘deliberate manipulation of the system test’.