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Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Please note:

All reference to 'Parts' and 'sections' are from the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. For other versions of these Explanatory Notes, see More Resources.

  1. Introduction

    1. Tenancies and licences

    2. Is a tenancy or licence an occupation contract?

    3. If so, what kind of occupation contract is it?

    4. What are the terms of an occupation contract?

      1. Fundamental provisions

    5. What are the terms of an occupation contract?

      1. Supplementary provisions

    6. What are the terms of an occupation contract?

      1. Terms addressing key matters and additional terms

    7. Where are the terms of an occupation contract set out?

  2. Structure of the Act

  3. Commentary on Sections

    1. Part 1 - Overview of Act

      1. Sections 1 to 6 – Introduction to, and overview of, Act

      2. Schedule 1 - Overview of fundamental provisions incorporated as terms of occupation contracts

    2. Part 2 - Occupation contracts and Landlords

      1. Chapter 1 - Occupation Contracts

        1. Section 7 – Tenancies and licences that are occupation contracts

        2. Schedule 2 - Exceptions to section 7

          1. Part 1 - tenancies and licences not within section 7 that are occupation contracts if notice is given

            1. Paragraph 1

            2. Paragraph 2

          2. Part 2 - Tenancies and licences within section 7 that are not occupation contracts unless notice is given

            1. Paragraph 3

          3. Part 3 - Tenancies and licences that are never occupation contracts

            1. Paragraph 7

            2. Paragraph 8

            3. Paragraph 10

          4. Part 4 - Tenancies and licences to which special rules apply: homelessness

            1. Paragraph 11

            2. Paragraph 12

          5. Part 5 - Tenancies and licences to which special rules apply: supported accommodation

            1. Paragraph 13

            2. Paragraph 14

            3. Paragraph 15

            4. Paragraph 16

        3. Section 8 – Secure contracts and standard contracts

      2. Chapter 2 - Nature of Contracts Which Can Be Made Etc. by Community Landlords and Private Landlords

        1. Section 9 – Community landlords and Section 10 – Private landlords

        2. Section 11 – Contract made with community landlord

        3. Schedule 3 - Occupation contracts made with or adopted by community landlords which may be standard contracts

        4. Section 12 – Contract adopted by community landlord

        5. Section 13 – Notice of standard contract

        6. Section 14 – Review of notice

        7. Section 15 – Notice of right to decide to remain on fixed contract

        8. Section 16 – Introductory standard contracts

        9. Schedule 4 - Introductory standard contracts

          1. Paragraph 1

          2. Paragraph 2

          3. Paragraph 3

          4. Paragraph 4

          5. Paragraph 5

          6. Paragraph 6

          7. Paragraph 7

          8. Paragraph 8

          9. Paragraph 9

        10. Section 17 – Contract made with or adopted by private landlord

      3. Chapter 3 - Fundamental Provisions of Occupation Contracts

        1. Section 18 - Fundamental provisions and Section 19 – Fundamental terms and fundamental provisions: definitions

        2. Section 20 – Incorporation and modification of fundamental provisions

        3. Section 21 – Effect of non-incorporation and modification of fundamental provisions

        4. Section 22 – Powers in relation to fundamental provisions

      4. Chapter 4 - Supplementary Provisions of Occupation

        1. Contracts

          1. Section 23 – Supplementary provisions

          2. Section 24 – Incorporation and modification of supplementary provisions

          3. Section 25 – Effect of non-incorporation and modification of supplementary provisions

      5. Chapter 5 - Key Matters and Additional Terms of Occupation Contracts

        1. Section 26 – Key matters of all occupation contracts

        2. Section 27 – Further key matters of standard contracts

        3. Section 28 – Additional terms

      6. Chapter 6 - Model Contracts

        1. Section 29 – Model written statement of contract

    3. Part 3 - Provisions Applying to All Occupation Contracts

      1. Chapter 1

        1. Section 30 – Overview of this Part

      2. Chapter 2 - Provision of Information

        1. Section 31 – Written statement

        2. Section 32 – Contents of written statement

        3. Section 33 – Editorial changes

        4. Section 34 – Failure to provide a written statement etc.

        5. Section 35 - Failure to provide statement: compensation

        6. Section 36 – Incomplete statement

        7. Section 37 – Incorrect statement: contract-holder’s application to court

        8. Section 38 – Incorrect statement: landlord’s application to court for declaration that contract is a standard contract

        9. Section 39 – Provision by landlord of information about the landlord and Section 40 - Compensation for breach of section 39

        10. Section 41 – Form of notices etc.

      3. Chapter 3 - When Contract Becomes Enforceable

        1. Section 42 – When terms of occupation contract become enforceable

      4. Chapter 4 - Deposits and Deposit Schemes

        1. Section 43 – Form of security

        2. Section 44 – Form of security: county court proceedings

        3. Section 45 – Requirement to use deposit scheme

        4. Section 46 – Deposit schemes: further provision

        5. Schedule 5 - Deposit schemes: further provision

          1. Paragraph 1

          2. Paragraphs 2 and 3

          3. Paragraph 4

        6. Section 47 - Deposit schemes: interpretation

      5. Chapter 5 - Joint Contract-Holders and Joint Landlords

        1. Section 48 – Joint contract-holders: joint liability etc.

        2. Section 49 – Adding a joint contract-holder

        3. Section 50 - Adding a joint contract-holder: landlord’s consent

        4. Schedule 6 - Reasonableness of withholding consent etc.

          1. Part 1 – Introductory

          2. Part 2 – Circumstances which may be relevant to reasonableness generally

          3. Part 3 - Circumstances which may be relevant to reasonableness in relation to particular transactions

        5. Section 51 - Adding a joint contract-holder: formalities

        6. Section 52 - Joint contract-holder ceasing to be a party to the occupation contract

        7. Section 53 - Joint landlords

      6. Chapter 6 - Right to Occupy Without Interference

        1. Section 54 – Right to occupy without interference from landlord

      7. Chapter 7 - Anti-Social Behaviour and Other Prohibited Conduct

        1. Section 55 - Anti-social behaviour and other prohibited conduct

        2. Schedule 7 - Prohibited conduct standard contracts

          1. Paragraph 1

          2. Paragraph 2

          3. Paragraph 3

          4. Paragraph 4

          5. Paragraphs 5 and 6

          6. Paragraph 7

          7. Paragraph 8

        3. Section 56 – Power to amend section 55

      8. Chapter 8 - Dealing

        1. Section 57 – Permissible forms of dealing and Section 58 - Dealing and landlord’s consent

        2. Sections 59 - Sub-occupation contracts: interpretation

        3. Section 60 - Sub-occupation contract never takes effect as transfer

        4. Section 61 - Failure to comply with conditions imposed by head landlord

        5. Section 62 - End of head contract

        6. Section 63 - End of head contract: further provision

        7. Section 64 - Possession claim against contract-holder where there is a sub-holder

        8. Section 65 - Extended possession order against sub-holder

        9. Section 66 - Exclusion of contract-holder after abandoning contracts

        10. Section 67 -Excluded contract-holder’s remedies

        11. Section 68 - Power to vary periods of time relating to exclusion after abandonment of contracts

        12. Section 69 - Form of transfer and Section 70 - Effect of authorised transfer

        13. Section 71 – Effect of unauthorised transfer

        14. Section 72 – Deeds and covenants

        15. Section 73 – Succession on death

        16. Sections 74 to 76 – Persons qualified to succeed

        17. Section 77 – Reserve successor: carer

        18. Section 78 – More than one qualified successor

        19. Section 79 – Effect of succession

        20. Section 80 - Substitute succession on early termination and Section 81– Effect of substitute succession

        21. Section 82 – Notice of rights under section 80

        22. Section 83 – Succession interpretation

      9. Chapter 9 - Landlord’s Consent

        1. Section 84 – Landlord’s consent: reasonableness

        2. Section 85 - Application to court relating to consent

        3. Section 86 – Landlord’s consent: timing

      10. Chapter 10 - Compensation

        1. Section 87 – Compensation for failures relating to provision of written statements etc.

        2. Section 88 – Right of set off

    4. Part 4 - Condition of Dwelling

      1. Chapter 1

        1. Section 89 – Application of Part

        2. Section 90 – Fixed term standard contracts: determining the length of term

      2. Chapter 2 - Condition of Dwelling

        1. Section 91 – Landlord’s obligation: fitness for human habitation

        2. Section 92 - Landlord’s obligation to keep dwelling in repair

        3. Section 93 – Obligations under sections 91 and 92: supplementary

        4. Section 94 – Determination of fitness for human habitation

        5. Section 95 - Limits on sections 91 and 92: general

        6. Section 96 – Limits on sections 91 and 92: contract-holders fault

        7. Section 97 - Limits on section 91 and 92: notice

        8. Section 98 – Landlord’s right to access dwelling

        9. Section 99 – Rights of permitted occupiers to enforce Chapter

      3. Chapter 3 – Miscellaneous

        1. Section 100 - Specific performance

        2. Section 101 – Waste and tenant-like user

    5. Part 5 - Provisions Applying Only to Secure Contracts

      1. Chapter 1

        1. Section 102 – Overview of Part

      2. Chapter 2 - Variation of Contracts

        1. Section 103 – Variation

        2. Section 104 - Variation of rent and Section 105 – Variation of other consideration

        3. Section 106 - Variation of fundamental terms

        4. Section 107 – Variation of supplementary and additional terms

        5. Section 108 – Limitation on variation

        6. Section 109 – Written statement of variation

        7. Section 110 – Failure to provide written statement etc.

      3. Chapter 3 - Joint Contract-Holders: Withdrawal

        1. Section 111 – Withdrawal

        2. Section 112 - Withdrawal: power to prescribe time limits

      4. Chapter 4 - Dealing

        1. Section 113 – Lodgers

        2. Section 114 and 115 - Transfer to potential successor

      5. Chapter 5 - Prohibited Conduct Standard Contracts

        1. Section 116 - Order imposing periodic standard contract because of prohibited conduct and Section 117 - Conversion to secure contract

      6. Chapter 6 - Provisions Applying Only to Secure Contracts With Community Landlords

        1. Section 118 - Transfer to another secure contract-holder and Section 119 - Transfer to another secure contract-holder: landlord’s consent

    6. Part 6 - Provisions Applying Only to Periodic Standard Contracts

      1. Chapter 1

        1. Section 120 – Overview of Part

      2. Chapter 2 – Exclusion for Specific Periods

        1. Section 121 – Exclusion of contract-holder from dwelling for specific periods

      3. Chapter 3 - Variation of Contracts

        1. Section 122 - Variation

        2. Section 123 – Variation of rent and Section 124 – Variation of other consideration

        3. Section 125 – Variation of other terms

        4. Section 126 - Variation by landlord of other terms: notice procedure

        5. Section 127 - Limitation on variation

        6. Section 128 – Written statement of variation

        7. Section 129 – Failure to provide written statement etc.

      4. Chapter 4 - Joint Contract-Holders: Withdrawal

        1. Section 130 – Withdrawal

        2. Section 131 - Withdrawal: power to prescribe time limits

    7. Part 7 - Provisions Applying Only to Fixed Term Standard Contracts

      1. Chapter 1

        1. Section 132 – Overview of Part

      2. Chapter 2 – Exclusion for Specified Periods

        1. Section 133 – Exclusion of contract-holder from dwelling for specified periods

      3. Chapter 3 - Variation of Contracts

        1. Section 134 and 135 – Variation and Limitation on variation

        2. Section 135 - Limitation on variation

        3. Section 136 – Written statement of variation

        4. Section 137 – Failure to provide written statement etc.

      4. Chapter 4 - Joint Contract-Holders: Withdrawal

        1. Section 138 – Withdrawal of joint contract-holder using contract-holder’s break clause

      5. Chapter 5 - Dealing: Transfers

        1. Section 139 – Transfer on death of sole contract-holder

        2. Section 140 – Forced transfers

        3. Section 141 – Joint contract-holder’s interest

        4. Section 142 - Transfer on death of joint contract-holder

    8. Part 8 - Supported Standard Contracts

      1. Section 143 - Supported standard contract and supported accommodation

      2. Section 144 – Mobility

      3. Section 145 – Temporary exclusion

      4. Section 146 – Temporary exclusion: guidance

    9. Part 9 - Termination Etc. of Occupation Contracts

      1. Chapter 1 - Overview and Introductory Provisions

        1. Section 147 – Overview of Part

        2. Section 148 – Permissible termination etc.

        3. Section 149 – Possession claims and Section 150 – Possession notices

        4. Section 151 – Introductory standard contracts and prohibited conduct standard contracts: notices under section 173 and 181

      2. Chapter 2 - Termination Etc. Without a Possession Claim

        (This Chapter Applies to All Occupation Contracts)

        1. Section 152 – Early termination by contract-holder

        2. Section 153 – Termination by agreement

        3. Section 154 – Repudiatory breach by landlord

        4. Section 155 – Death of sole contract-holder

        5. Section 156 - Death of landlord where occupation contract is a licence

      3. Chapter 3 - Termination of All Occupation Contracts (Possession Claims by Landlords)

        1. Section 157 – Breach of contract

        2. Section 158 – False statement inducing landlord to make contract to be treated as breach of contract

        3. Section 159 – Restrictions on section 157

        4. Section 160 – Estate management grounds

        5. Schedule 8 - Estate Management Grounds

          1. Part 1 – The Grounds

            1. Redevelopment grounds

              1. Paragraph 1 - Ground A (building works)

              2. Paragraph 2 - Ground B (redevelopment schemes)

            2. Special accommodation grounds

              1. Paragraph 3 - Ground C (charities)

              2. Paragraph 4 - Ground D (dwellings suitable for disabled people)

              3. Paragraph 5 - Ground E (housing associations and housing trusts: people difficult to house)

              4. Paragraph 6 - Ground F (groups of dwellings for people with special needs)

            3. Under-occupation grounds

              1. Paragraph 7 - Ground G (reserve successors)

              2. Paragraph 8 - Ground H (joint contract-holders)

            4. Other estate management reasons

              1. Paragraph 9 - Ground I (other estate management reasons)

        6. Section 161 - Restrictions on section 160

        7. Section 162 - Estate management grounds: redevelopment schemes

        8. Schedule 8 - Estate Management Grounds

          1. Part 2 - Approval of redevelopment schemes for purposes of Ground B

            1. Paragraph 11

            2. Paragraph 12

            3. Paragraph 13

            4. Paragraph 14

            5. Paragraph 15

            6. Paragraph 16

      4. Chapter 4 - Termination of Secure Contracts (Contract- Holder’s Notice)

        1. Section 163 - Contract-holder’s notice and Section 164 - Minimum notice period

        2. Section 165 – Recovery of possession

        3. Section 166 – Restrictions on section 165

        4. Section 167 - Termination of contract on contract-holder’s notice

      5. Chapter 5 - Termination of Periodic Standard Contracts

        1. Section 168 to 172 - Contract-holder’s notice and minimum notice period

        2. Section 173 – Landlord’s notice and Section 174 - Minimum notice period

        3. Section 175 - Restrictions on section 173: notice may not be given in first four months of occupation

        4. Schedule 9 – Standard contracts to which limits in sections 175, 185(2) and 196 (landlord’s notice during first six months of occupation) do not apply

        5. Section 176 – Restrictions on section 173: breach of information requirements

        6. Section 177 - Restrictions on section 173: breach of security and deposit requirements

        7. Section 178 – Recovery of possession

        8. Section 179 – Restriction on section 178

        9. Section 180 – Termination of contract on landlord’s notice

        10. Section 181 - Serious rent arrears

        11. Section 182 - Restrictions on section 181

        12. Section 183 – Relevance of events under fixed term standard contract

      6. Chapter 6 – Fixed Term Standard Contracts: End of the Fixed Term

        1. Section 184 – End of fixed term

        2. Section 185 – Written statement may address periodic standard contract arising under section 184(2)

      7. Chapter 7 – Termination of Fixed Term Standard Contracts

        1. Section 186 – Landlord’s notice in connection with end of term

        2. Section 187 – Serious rent arrears and Section 188 – Restrictions on section 187

        3. Section 189 – Contract-holder’s break clause and Section 190 - Minimum notice period

        4. Section 191 – Recovery of possession

        5. Section 192 – Restrictions on section 191

        6. Section 193 – Termination of contract under contract-holder’s break clause

        7. Section 194 – Landlord’s break clause and Section 195 - Minimum notice period

        8. Section 196 to 201 - Restrictions on use of landlord’s break clause and arrangements for recovering possession

      8. Chapter 8 - Review by Landlord of Decision to Give Notice Requiring Possession

        (This Chapter Applies Only to Introductory Standard Contracts and Prohibited Conduct Standard Contracts)

        1. Section 202 – Review of decision to terminate introductory standard contracts or prohibited contracts standard contracts

        2. Section 203 - Landlord’s review of decision to give a notice

      9. Chapter 9 - Possession Claims: Powers of Court

        (This Chapter Applies to All Occupation Contracts)

        1. Section 204 – Possession claims

        2. Section 205 – Orders for possession

        3. Section 206 – Effect of order for possession

        4. Section 207 – Participation in proceedings

        5. Section 208 – Misrepresentation or concealment of facts used to obtain order for possession

      10. Chapter 10 – Possession Claims: Powers of Court in Relation to Discretionary Grounds

        (This Chapter Applies to All Occupation Contracts)

        1. Section 209 – Breach of contract ground

        2. Schedule 10 - Orders for Possession on discretionary grounds etc.: reasonableness

        3. Section 210 – Estate management grounds

        4. Schedule 11 - Suitable alternative accommodation

        5. Section 211 – Powers to adjourn proceedings and postpone giving up of possession

      11. Chapter 11 – Possession Claims: Powers of Court in Relation to Absolute Ground

        (This Chapter Applies Only to Secure Contracts)

        1. Section 212 – Contract-holder’s notice ground

        2. Section 213 – Review of claim made on absolute ground

        3. Section 214 – Powers to postpone giving up of possession

      12. Chapter 12 - Possession Claims: Powers of Court in Relation to Absolute Grounds

        (This Chapter Applies Only to Standard Contracts)

        1. Section 215 – Notice grounds

        2. Section 216 – Serious rent arrears grounds

        3. Section 217 – Retaliatory possession claims to avoid obligations to repair etc.

        4. Section 218 – Review of claim made on absolute ground

        5. Section 219 – Powers to postpone giving up of possession

      13. Chapter 13 – Abandonment

        (This Chapter Applies to All Occupation Contracts)

        1. Section 220 - Possession of abandoned dwellings

        2. Section 221 – Disposal of property

        3. Section 222 – Contract-holder’s remedies

        4. Section 223 – Power to vary periods of time relating to abandonment

        5. Section 224 – Rights of entry

      14. Chapter 14 – Joint Contract-Holders: Exclusion and Termination

        (This Chapter Applies to All Occupation Contracts)

        1. Section 225 – Non-occupation: exclusion by landlord

        2. Section 226 – Remedies for exclusion under Section 225

        3. Section 227 – Non-occupation: exclusion by joint contract-holder

        4. Section 228 – Remedies for exclusion under section 227

        5. Section 229 – Power to vary periods of time relating to exclusion of joint contract-holder

        6. Section 230 – Prohibited conduct: exclusion by landlord

        7. Section 231 – Termination of occupation contract with joint contract-holders

      15. Chapter 15 - Forfeiture and Notices to Quit Not Available

        1. Section 232 – Forfeiture and notices to quit

    10. Part 10 – Miscellaneous

      1. Chapter 1 – Further Provisions Relating to Occupation Contracts

        1. Section 233 – Effect of reaching 18

        2. Section 234 – Consultation arrangements and Section 235 - Statement of consultation arrangements

        3. Section 236 – Form of notices, statements and other documents and Section 237 - Giving notices, statements and other documents

      2. Chapter 2 – Trespassers: Implied Tenancies and Licences

        1. Section 238 – Implied tenancies and licences

      3. Chapter 3 – Tenancies and Licences Existing before Commencement of This Chapter

        1. Sections 239 to 241 - Pre-existing licences and tenancies

        2. Schedule 12 - Conversion of tenancies and licences existing before commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 10

        3. Section 242 - Interpretation of Chapter

    11. Part 11 - Final Provisions

      1. Sections 243 to 258

  4. Record of Proceedings in National Assembly for Wales

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

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