PART 9

TERMINATION ETC. OF OCCUPATION CONTRACTS
CHAPTER 13

ABANDONMENT

(THIS CHAPTER APPLIES TO ALL OCCUPATION CONTRACTS)

Possession of abandoned dwellings
220
1
If the landlord under a relevant occupation contract believes that the contract-holder has abandoned the dwelling, the landlord may recover possession of the dwelling in accordance with this section.
2
An occupation contract is relevant if it is a term of the contract (however expressed) that the contract-holder must occupy the dwelling as his or her only or principal home.
3
The landlord must give the contract-holder notice—
a
stating that the landlord believes that the contract-holder has abandoned the dwelling,
b
requiring the contract-holder to inform the landlord in writing before the end of the warning period if the contract-holder has not abandoned the dwelling, and
c
informing the contract-holder of the landlord's intention to end the contract if at the end of the warning period the landlord is satisfied that the contract-holder has abandoned the dwelling.
4
During the warning period the landlord must make such inquiries as are necessary to satisfy the landlord that the contract-holder has abandoned the dwelling.
5
At the end of the warning period the landlord may, if satisfied as described in subsection (4), end the contract by giving the contract-holder a notice.
6
The contract ends when the notice under subsection (5) is given to the contract-holder.
7
If an occupation contract is ended under this section the landlord may recover possession of the dwelling without court proceedings.
8
The warning period is the period of four weeks starting with the day on which a notice under subsection (3) is given to the contract-holder.
9
The landlord must give a copy of a notice under subsection (3) and a copy of a notice under subsection (5) to any lodger or sub-holder of the contract-holder.
Pt. 9 excluded (1.12.2022) by 2004 c. 34, s. 33(c) (as inserted by The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1166), regs. 1(1), 28(2)(c))
S. 220 in force at 1.12.2022 by S.I. 2022/906, art. 2