Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016
Wales
Wales has its own regime — occupation contracts, contract-holders, and its own notice periods. Every template uses the Welsh Government's fundamental terms and the correct statutory language.
The Welsh regime has been fully operational for 3+ years. The terminology is different from England: 'contract-holder' (not tenant), 'occupation contract' (not tenancy), 'landlord break' (not Section 21).
- When1 Dec 2022Act commenced
Full transition from the old Housing Act 1988 regime. All pre-existing tenancies converted to occupation contracts on commencement day.
- WhenIn forceFitness for Human Habitation
29 matters the landlord must address before and during occupation — see our Welsh Landlord Starter Pack for the checklist.
Welsh Landlord Starter Pack
Every Welsh landlord essential in one bundle.
Standard occupation contracts
Replaces ASTs. The written statement of terms must be given within 14 days of occupation — our template is drafted directly against the Welsh Government model.
Section 173 landlord-break
Welsh equivalent of no-fault possession — but with a minimum 6 months' notice on periodic contracts and a 12-month occupation minimum.
Rent Smart Wales
Landlords must be registered and licensed with Rent Smart Wales (or appoint a licensed managing agent) before letting. We link to the official registration route — it's not something we can do for you.
Must do
- ✓ Issue the written statement of the occupation contract within 14 days of occupation
- ✓ Register (and if self-managing, licence) with Rent Smart Wales
- ✓ Protect the deposit under one of the three approved schemes within 30 days
- ✓ Serve a Fitness for Human Habitation compliant property
- ✓ Give at least 6 months' notice on any section 173 landlord-break after month 12
Don't do
- ✗ Use the English 'AST' terminology — the legal construct doesn't exist in Wales
- ✗ Serve a section 173 before the 12-month minimum occupation window has elapsed
- ✗ Charge a prohibited payment (only rent, deposit capped at 5 weeks, and narrow permitted payments)
- ✗ Let a property without Rent Smart Wales registration
- ✗ Increase rent more than once in a rolling 12-month period without a section 104 variation notice
Wales templates
Shop all Wales →Notices
Rent Variation Notice (Wales)
Statutory notice of rent variation for a Welsh occupation contract. Two months' minimum notice, no more than once in any 12-month period, with the Rent Assessment Committee referral pathway built in.
Section 173 Landlord-Break Notice (Wales)
The no-fault landlord-break notice for a Welsh periodic standard occupation contract. Six months' minimum notice, cannot be served in the first six months of occupation, must be brought to court within six months of expiry.
Section 157 Serious Breach Notice (Wales)
Possession notice for serious breach of an occupation contract. Used where the contract-holder has committed a serious breach or is responsible for serious rent arrears, and the landlord seeks immediate possession proceedings.
FAQ — Wales
Why is everything called 'occupation contract' and 'contract-holder'?
The 2016 Act deliberately replaced the English terminology. 'Contract-holder' replaces 'tenant' and 'licensee'; 'occupation contract' replaces 'tenancy'. The terminology change is not cosmetic — the statutory rights and duties differ from the English regime.
Can I still evict a contract-holder without fault?
Yes — Wales did not abolish no-fault possession. A section 173 notice gives 6 months' notice on a periodic standard contract, but cannot take effect until 12 months from the start of the contract. Our section 173 notice template handles the timing rules.
Do I need to register with Rent Smart Wales?
Yes. Every Welsh landlord must register. If you self-manage, you must also hold a licence. You can appoint a licensed agent instead. Registration is done at rentsmart.gov.wales — we can't do it for you.
What is the deposit cap in Wales?
5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks if annual rent is £50,000 or more). The same three approved schemes as England apply — DPS, MyDeposits, TDS.
Can I mix English and Welsh documents?
Never. A Welsh property must be let on a Welsh occupation contract using Welsh statutory language. An English tenancy agreement signed for a property in Wales does not comply with the 2016 Act and may be unenforceable. That's why we do separate templates for each jurisdiction.
Not in Wales?
Tenancy law is set at national level. Pick your jurisdiction to see the right documents.