In an attempt to improve living conditions in the Welsh private rented housing sector, the government has published a White Paper in advance of the new Housing Bill, which outlines a number of important legislative changes that will affect all landlords and letting agents in Wales, irrespective of how many properties they own or manage.
The changes will require that all landlords sign a mandatory housing register before they can let a property to a tenant. Landlords will also be required to pass a test to ensure they are a “fit and proper person”, although the definition of a “fit and proper person” has yet to be clarified! Once a landlord or letting agent is given appropriate accreditation, they will be able to run a property rental business in Wales.
By putting such legislation in place to protect tenants, the government clearly recognises that the private rented sector is awash with both good and bad landlords, but with the introduction of these legislative changes, it hopes to reduce the number of cases of “bad landlords” taking advantage of vulnerable people, desperate for a home.
Although I should point out that landlords are not the only ones to blame: there are plenty of dodgy letting agents operating in Wales and other parts of the UK, companies who make money from charging landlords and tenants hidden fees or adding questionable expenses to the cost of their services.
However, even though better regulation of the private rented sector is an excellent idea, there still remains a significant shortage of available rental property, and not just in Wales, which is a problem that urgently needs addressing.
