The type of tenancy and the rules for renting a home in Wales changed with the implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (‘The Act’) which came into force on 1 December 2022. The Act aims to improve the security of tenure for tenants and make it easier for them to rent but it could be perilous for landlords and they must ensure that they familiarise themselves with its requirements. The Act introduces standardised terms to all contracts.
Subject to certain exceptions[1], most existing tenancy agreements granted to an individual converted to an occupation contract on 1 December 2022 as the Act has retrospective effect. If an existing tenancy is a fixed term assured shorthold tenancy, it became a fixed term standard occupation contract. If it was a periodic assured shorthold tenancy, it become a periodic standard contract.