Housing law: an overview in Wales
This guidance is intended to be used for general information purposes, is not intended to be a definitive guide to the law and cannot be a substitute for independent advice. NFU members get free initial legal and professional advice from NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.
Important new changes
New anti-discrimination rules come into force on 1st June 2026. Existing occupation contracts must be updated by 14th June 2026 to include the new provisions. For more information see:
- UK Government Renters' Rights Act 2025 - Rent Smart Wales
- or our business guide Setting up an occupation contract in Wales at: https://www.nfuonline.com/member-resources/housing-law-setting-up-an-occupation-contract-in-wales/.
It is essential that everyone who provides accommodation to another person in Wales considers whether the Renting Homes (Wales) Act applies to them. The scope is much broader than previous housing legislation and applies to most situations where housing is provided, not just tenancies.
From 1 December 2022, housing law in Wales changed fundamentally with the implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
This business guide provides landlords of residential properties in Wales with a summary of the rules and is an introduction to some of the key changes that you need to be aware of.
We have three further business guides on housing tenancies in Wales, being:
- Setting up an occupation contract in Wales at: https://www.nfuonline.com/member-resources/housing-law-setting-up-an-occupation-contract-in-wales/;
- Terminating an occupation contract in Wales at: https://www.nfuonline.com/member-resources/housing-law-terminating-an-occupation-contract-in-wales/; and
- Housing agricultural workers in Wales at: https://www.nfuonline.com/member-resources/housing-law-housing-agricultural-workers-in-wales/.