This guidance is specific for tenancies in Wales. If you're looking for information relating to tenancies in England, please go here.
Alongside the new types of contract, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 introduces new requirements for landlords in Wales in addition to a landlord's existing requirements, such as having an annual gas safety check.
Any tenancy that starts on, or after 1 December 2022, will need to meet the requirements below. Tenancies that started before 1 December 2022 have up to 12 months to make necessary adjustments (excluding carbon monoxide alarms). However, if the pre-existing tenancy ends, then you will need to meet the new requirements before a new tenancy starts.
Fitness for Human Habitation (FFHH)
Dwellings will be required to meet a minimum standard in order to be considered Fit for Human Habitation. This includes things like:
- Avoiding high levels of damp/mould
- Ensuring sufficient access to clean water
- Ability to maintain the property at a reasonable temperature (avoiding extreme heat or cold)
- Safely managing Asbestos or other Manufactured Mineral Fibres
- Ensuring sufficient ventilation, particularly around combustion appliances such as a boiler or gas fire
You can find a full guide to the Fitness for Human Habitation requirements on the Welsh Senedd website.
If a dwelling is found not to be fit for human habitation then the contract-holder (tenant) will not be required to pay rent until the issue(s) are resolved. Landlords will also be unable to serve a 'landlord notice' (to end the tenancy) until the issue(s) are ending.
Smoke Alarms
Dwellings with active tenancies will need to meet the following requirements:
- At least one working smoke alarm per storey
- At least one alarm per storey must be connected to the dwelling's mains electricity
- All alarms connected to the electrical supply must be linked to each other
Dwellings can have more than one working alarm per storey. Additional alarms don't need to be connected to the mains electricity or to each other.
If you are unsure of how to meet this requirement we'd recommend that you speak to the fire and rescue department for the property:
North Wales
South Wales
Mid and West Wales
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
There must be a working carbon monoxide alarm in every room which has a gas, oil or solid fuel combustion appliance.
If you are unsure of how or where to place a carbon monoxide alarm we'd recommend that you speak to your local fire and rescue department using the links above.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Landlords will need to ensure that there is a valid EICR for each of their dwellings. An EICR is issued at the end of a Periodic inspection and Testing (PIT) of a dwelling's electrical wiring.
EICRs check that a dwelling's electrical wiring is safe to use, identify any issues with the wiring and advise of remedial work that is necessary.
Most EICRs are valid for up to five years. However, some reports may be valid for a shorter period of time so you should make sure you double check the renewal date on the report you've received.
At the start of any new tenancy, after 1 December, landlords should:
- Make sure that they have had a PIT carried out, received an EICR and had any necessary remedial work carried out
- Provide a copy of the EICR + confirmation of remedial work (if applicable) within seven days of the contract-holder(s) moving in.
Landlords with tenancies that continue through 1 December should:
- Ensure that they have a valid EICR by 30 November 2023 (unless the existing tenancy ends).
- Provide a copy of the EICR to the contract-holder (tenant) within seven days of receiving it
- Provide a copy of the confirmation that all remedial work has been completed within seven days of receiving the confirmation