Renting Homes (Wales) Act: occupation contracts

Last updated 25 Oct 2026

In Wales, a landlord must give the contract-holder a written statement of their occupation contract within 14 days of the occupation date. The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 sets this rule and replaced tenancies with occupation contracts. This page covers Wales only; England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate rules.

When the Act applies

The Welsh Government's landlord FAQ (last updated 29 April 2026) says: "The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 commenced fully on 1 December 2022." Tenants are now called contract-holders. Standard contracts replaced assured shorthold tenancies, and secure contracts replaced secure and assured tenancies.

The written statement

Section 31 of the 2016 Act says the landlord must give the written statement "before the end of the period of 14 days starting with the occupation date".

If the contract-holder changes, the same 14 days run from the change, or from when the landlord becomes aware of it if later.
The landlord may not charge for the first statement.
The contract-holder can ask for a further statement at any time, and the landlord must provide it within 14 days. A reasonable fee may be charged.
Converted contracts needed their statements by 1 June 2023.

According to the FAQ, a landlord who has not given the written statement may not serve a section 173 notice, and then cannot serve one for six months from the day it is provided. Check the model statements on the Welsh Government site before you write your own.

Ending a contract

Situation	Notice from the landlord, per the FAQ
No-fault (section 173, Form RHW16), periodic standard contract	Not less than six months, and not until after the first six months of occupation
Breach of contract, such as non-payment	One month
Serious rent arrears (two months or more)	14 days
Anti-social behaviour	Notice and court proceedings can start on the same day

The contract-holder's notice to end is at least four weeks. That does not apply to a fixed-term standard contract unless it has a break clause. Section 173 is a periodic standard contract rule, and its page lists amendments, so check the current text before serving.

Rent increases and 2026 changes

The FAQ says a landlord gives two months' notice of a rent variation, which may be issued annually. See rent increases by nation to compare.

From 1 June 2026, two new fundamental terms prevent discrimination against contract-holders who have children or receive welfare benefits.

What Letbook covers in Wales

Letbook has a Wales checklist, chosen from the property's postcode or by you. It tracks the Rent Smart Wales licence, gas safety, electrical inspection, EPC, alarms, deposit protection and the written statement of the occupation contract. It does not draft contracts or serve notices.

If you let a Welsh property, Letbook is a compliance tracker for landlords that adds these items and emails you before dates lapse. Sign up free.

Sources

This page is general information, not legal advice.