Shock for agents as politicians consider six month notice period

Shock for agents as politicians consider six month notice period


Todays other news


Agents have come out fighting against a proposal being considered in one part of the UK to triple the time to remove a tenant via the eviction process from two to six months.

Under current legislation and the Rent Smart Wales system, landlords in the Principality must wait until six months have passed before they can serve notice through Section 21. However, if they serve an ‘unused’ notice at the start of the tenancy, they can move much more rapidly and evict a tenant with little delay. 

However, new legislation proposed by the Labour-led Welsh Government means the ‘unused’ notice could not be served during the first six months of a tenancy – which in effect would mean tenants receive a guaranteed year in their home free from any possible eviction.

Welsh Government housing minister Julie James says this would “add further significant protections” for tenants, adding: “What we are trying to do is make sure good landlords are rewarded well and bad landlords are driven out of the market,” 

The move has, unsurprisingly, been backed by Shelter and tenants’ groups.

But David Cox, the chief executive of ARLA Propertymark, says: “Extending notice periods from two months to six months under the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill will cause further shockwaves for landlords and agents. 

“The proposals will make it even more difficult for landlords to reclaim possession of their property and add further longevity to an already lengthy and expensive eviction process.

“We are concerned that landlords will have no viable option of evicting problem tenants quickly and efficiently due to current court procedures.

“If landlords sell up due to the perceived risk, this will shrink the sector and contribute to landlords being more selective about who they let their property to. 

“The Welsh Assembly must reconsider extending the minimum notice period and take a long-term, holistic view that supports those who are providing professional and well managed tenancies.”

Share this article ...

Join the conversation: Login and have your say

Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions. All comments are screened using specialist software and may be reviewed by our editorial team before publication. Letting Agent Today reserves the right to edit, withhold or delete comments that violate our guidelines, including those that harass, degrade, or intimidate others. Users who post such content may be banned from commenting.
By commenting, you agree to our Commenting Terms of Use.
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Recommended for you
Related Articles
A consultation document is being released today....
Does the Landlord and tenant Act 1954 need bringing up...
The Renters Rights Bill is likely to become law this...
The move bolsters the group's presence in key regions of...
The Welsh Government is backing the call for a 'compensation'...
There will be a series of leasehold reforms announced in...
Recommended for you
Latest Features
A consultation document is being released today....
Propertymark says an audit can take stress out of HMRC...
There are 48 units in this grade II listed block...
Sponsored Content
Tenants want a place they can call home—somewhere comfortable, safe,...
Letting agencies face the dual challenge of keeping both landlords...

Send to a friend

In order to send this article to a friend you must first login. Click on the button below to login or sign up.

No one likes pop-ups ...
But while you're here