Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016: information for tenants

The act will:

• simplify several pieces of housing law and create one single legal framework
• simplify and improve rights and responsibilities
• for the first time, create two types of contracts:
  1. Secure contract: this will replace secure tenancy agreements issued by the council. It will also replace assured tenancies issued by housing associations.
  2. Standard contract: this affects tenants in private rented accommodation but will also be used by the council and housing associations in certain circumstances (eg an 'introductory standard contract' for new council tenants). 

There will be greater security for people who live in the private-rented sector.

How it will affect you as a council tenant

• Your legal rights to live in your home will not be any less secure and you will not have to move home
• You will continue to receive the same service from us as your landlord
• We will become a 'community landlord', a change from the term 'social landlord
• Tenants will become contract holders
• Tenancy agreements will become occupation contracts
• Succession rights will be increased - if you share your home, two successions to the contract will be allowed to take place, for example a spouse followed by another family member. In addition, a new succession right for carers is created
• Joint contracts - contract-holders can be added or removed from occupation contracts without the need to end one contract and start another. This will make managing joint contracts easier and help victims of domestic abuse by enabling the perpetrator to be targeted for eviction 

What you need to do

There is nothing that you need to do right now.

Existing tenants will receive their new occupation contracts within six months from 1 December 2022 and new tenants (contract holders) will sign up to a new occupation contract from this date.

We have been liaising closely with Welsh Government, Welsh Local Government Association and other housing organisations to prepare for the changes, and our staff are working hard to ensure the changes are implemented as seamlessly as possible.

We will keep you informed of progress and information will be sent out to you in the next few months to explain the changes in detail.

Further information

• Tenants: housing law is changing (Renting Homes) (Welsh Government) (opens new window)
• Tenants: housing law is changing (Renting Homes) - easy read (Welsh Government) (opens new window)
• The way you rent is changing (TPAS Cymru - Tenant Participation Advisory Service) (opens new window)
• Guidance for tenants (Renting Homes): foreign language versions (Welsh Government) (opens new window)

If you have any questions or comments, please email housing@swansea.gov.uk