Renting Homes (Wales) Bill Introduced

Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty has introduced the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill to the Welsh National Assembly.

The bill, introduced by the Minister on Monday 9th February 2015, is now set to proceed through the Welsh National Assembly's legislative process with the aim of achieving its Royal Assent by early 2016.

If this Bill is passed it will replace existing housing law in Wales with a new legal framework.

Griffiths hopes the bill will -

• Give tenants ‘easy-to-understand’ written contracts by letting agents or landlords. 
• Stop landlords from making ‘revenge evictions’. 
• Bring greater powers to evict domestic abusers without affecting others living at a property. 
• Provide greater flexibility for landlords to offer short-term tenancies 
• Give better rights to 16 and 17-year-olds renting a property. 

Read in detail the pdf copy with the Explanatory Notes for the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill

Read more on the status and detail of the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill and the pdf doc, on Welsh Assembly's housing aims - Homes for Wales - November Bulletin

Introduction of new Welsh tenancy agreements

A significant part of these proposals are the creation of two new types of rental contract in Wales.

One for 'social housing' and another for the 'private rented sector.

• A “secure contract” similar to the current secure tenancy issued by local authorities. This “secure contract” would be used by landlords providing “social housing” (local authorities and registered social landlords) creating a “single social tenancy” 
• A “standard contract” modeled on the assured short hold tenancy that is used mainly in the private rented sector. An assured shorthold tenancy will result in a minimum notice period of two months.

Read further comment on the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill in Walesonline
Read further comment on the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill from BBCWales

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