Housing law: setting up an occupation contract in Wales
Please note that this guidance is intended to be used for general information purposes only, is not intended to be a definitive guide to the law and cannot be a substitute for independent advice. NFU members can obtain free initial legal and professional advice from NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.
It is essential that everyone who provides accommodation in Wales should consider whether the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 applies to them. The scope is much broader than previous housing legislation and applies to most situations where a person lives in accommodation owned by someone else.
This business guide explains the requirements for setting up a new, periodic standard occupation contract, and also looks at how to convert an existing tenancy that started before 1 December 2022.
For an introduction to the recent changes to housing law in Wales, please see business guide “Housing Law: an overview in Wales” at https://www.nfuonline.com/member-resources/housing-law-an-overview-in-wales/.
Please note this business guide only relates to:
- Standard occupation contracts (that is to say, an occupation contract granted by a private landlord rather than a housing authority or local authority); and
- Occupation contracts that are “periodic” (running from month-to-month) rather than those with a fixed term.