Landlords criticise new legislation extending eviction notice periods in Wales
The organisation which represents property agents across the UK has criticised the Welsh Government’s proposed changes to eviction notice periods in the private rented.
The Renting Homes (Wales) Act was due to come into force on 15 July but was pushed back until 1 December 2022 in May.
The legislation aims to improve security of tenure for renters by, amongst other things, increasing the period of notice that a landlord must give when seeking repossession of their property in instances where the renter is not at fault.
Described as the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades, the act abolishes many of the old forms of tenancy replacing these with statutorily regulated occupation contracts.
Tim Thomas, Policy and Campaigns Officer for Propertymark, said: “Letting agents and their landlords showed great flexibility at the outset of the pandemic in their support of extended notice periods, but again we have a government pursuing permanent changes to what were supposed to be temporary measures.
“The Welsh Government says extending notice periods for existing tenancies from June is necessary to bring down the rising cost to taxpayers of temporary accommodation. What it fails to understand is the knock-on effect this strengthening of tenants’ rights will have on the confidence of landlords.
“New tenancies will also have to comply by 1 December.
“The private landlords our member agents represent have become important housing providers, but they need to know they can regain possession of their property when they need to do so.
“The best way to support tenants is to focus on policies that can increase the supply of housing rather those that will constrain it.”
Consultation
In September the government launched a consultation on proposals to apply a six-month no-fault notice period to existing tenancies that convert to occupation contracts under the Act, to take effect from 1 June 2023 (the six-month notice period already applies to new contracts starting from next month).
Over 90% of the completed responses received to the consultation were from private landlords and lettings agents, the vast majority of whom were against extending the six-month notice periods to existing tenancies, and of those that were in agreement most favoured applying the change at a later date.
All tenants and tenant representative bodies that responded to the consultation were in favour of the proposed extension, with most also arguing it should be applied from 1 December rather than 1 June 2023.
Julie James, the Minister for Climate Change, who also has responsibility for housing, said: “The proposed extension of the six-month no-fault notice period was always going to generate highly contrasting views.
“Whilst noting the views of those landlords and agents that responded, I have decided that the societal and individual benefits accruing from the extension outweigh the negative impact on individual landlords, particularly in view of shorter notice periods of one month or less applying where there is a breach of contract.”
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Of course they do for they are greedy and evil.
Of course they would, selfish c’nts
Dear Landlords,
Please, with my blessing, feel free to take a trip to the seaside and drown your worthless selves, you utter scumbags,
Lots of p**s and spite,
C. M. Jones…xx
No fault evictions are a total breach of renters’ fundamental human rights.
It’s only a small step towards redressing the appalling imbalance of power between landlords and renters.
Well done, Llywodraeth Cymru!
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There has to be change in notice periods simply because the current supply side of the market has failed completely. I see nothing at all wrong with a landlord wishing to end a lease but given the time it takes tenants to find a new home then 6 months is not unreasonable. Agents should perhaps point to the defects in the entire housing market which creates inflationary bubbles even when the rest of the economy was not subject to those pressures. Governments at UK and devolved levels should have grasped this nettle years ago with a mix of new build… Read more »
Aren’t they banning “no fault evictions” in England and Scotland?
Probably. But of course it’s only wrong here.
Curious that Janet French and Saudners hasn’t opened her gob aboutt his. Moutyh full fomr gorging at the trugh no doubt
Why do people assume all Landlords have loads of properties and they are all greedy? I do not have a second property btw, but if a buy to let mortgage is taken out by an individual and now that interest rates have gone up, who will pay the mortgage if their hands are tied by Government policies? If that mortgage isn’t paid the bank will repossess the property. How will that help the person as they wok end up evicted It’s just like those that flip over tax cuts for businesses assuming that the tax cuts will go to the… Read more »
I’m a landlord who’s selling up due to the new regulations. I’ve always charged 30% below market rents and half of my tenants are the original ones from 15 years ago. The houses are being bought be a company that will increase the rents and not care about the tenants. This is happening everywhere in the UK. The number of properties available to rent are decreasing which means the rents are increasing, if you can find one. Things are going to worse for renters because of this legislation and I can’t wait to get out. Good luck finding a place… Read more »
Mandy Rice-Davies applies.