Welsh Government have delayed implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) 2016 Act to 1st December 2022
In what's sure to be a welcome relief for many landlords, Welsh Government have announced today that the implementation of the Renting Homes Wales (2016) Act has been pushed back, with the legislation now due to come into force on 1st December 2022.
Announced in January 2022, the Act (described as "the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades") was originally scheduled for 15th July. This deadline gave landlords and property managers just six months to navigate through the legislation and get their properties up to the required standard.
Welsh Government look to alleviate pressures, particularly on landlords and agents responsible for a large number of properties
Climate Change Minister Julie James, who is responsible for housing, said today:
“I have over recent months received representations from landlords, and particularly social landlords, who have requested that implementation of the Act be delayed. In the light of the unprecedented pressures they (landlords) face, including Covid recovery and supporting those who are fleeing the war in Ukraine, I have decided to postpone implementation of the Act until 1st December 2022. This will allow more time for landlords to complete the necessary preparations ahead of implementation.
Wholesale reform of the type that the Renting Homes (Wales) Act is bringing about happens only very rarely - perhaps once in a generation. I want to do all I can to ensure landlords have adequate time to make the necessary preparations to comply with the requirements of the Act." (Read the statement in full).
Landlord concerns over time needed to prepare have been acknowledged
Alongside a general consensus within the sector that six months wouldn't allow for sufficient time to prepare, there are a number of changes that have still yet to be fully clarified (a “third and final tranche of subordinate legislation” is set to be released in June). This extension will give landlords and agents more time to digest the information, put measures in place to ensure rental properties meet required 'fit for human habitation' standards and plan to properly convert all tenancy agreements to new occupation contracts.
The move comes after pressure, lead chiefly by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), pushing for Welsh Government to reconsider the proposed timescale considering the vast complexities of the incoming new laws.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, commented:
“The NRLA had warned for some time that the Welsh Government’s timetable for implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act was unrealistic and provided insufficient time for landlords to prepare. It is reassuring that landlords’ concerns have been heeded, albeit late in the day. We welcome the announcement that implementation will be postponed until 1 December 2022. This will give the Government time to consider the many issues raised by private and social landlords ahead of these major changes coming into force.” (Read more).
Propertymark’s Daryl McIntosh added:
"This delay has come completely out of the blue. We understand that this is a huge piece of legislation that fundamentally changes the entire rented sector in Wales, but what is taking so long? Royal Assent was granted six years ago, and the Welsh Government still hasn’t published all the regulations. We’d urge Ministers to get on with publishing the remaining regulations within their original timeframe of June and July to ensure there is a more sufficient lead-in time and to avoid any further delays and uncertainty." (Read more).
We will be getting in touch with our clients with further updates in the coming weeks and updating our blog series accordingly - bear with us! Please feel free to send any questions through to enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk.
