Why it matters
What Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 means for a landlord
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 covers England only. In Wales, the rules come from the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. You must give each contract-holder a written statement of their contract within 14 days. To end a contract without fault, you must give six months notice. You also cannot give that notice in the first six months. The home must be fit to live in, with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and a valid electrical report. If you let in both England and Wales, you must follow two different sets of rules.
Worked example
How it plays out
Gareth lets a flat in Cardiff and another in Bristol. In Cardiff the tenant is a contract-holder on a standard occupation contract, who must get a written statement within 14 days of moving in, and a no-fault notice needs six months. In Bristol the tenancy is an assured periodic tenancy under English law, where no-fault possession no longer exists. Gareth keeps separate templates and checklists for each.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Using English templates or notices for a property in Wales.
- 02Missing the 14-day deadline for the written statement in Wales.
- 03Assuming the Renters’ Rights Act applies in Wales.
What to do
A short checklist
- Keep separate document sets for England and Wales.
- Check Rent Smart Wales registration and licensing for Welsh lets.
- Diary the notice rules for Wales separately.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
